In New Haven, Conn., for instance, mandatory sentences for drug dealers and stricter penalties for crack dealers have put 47 percent of black men in prisons, jails and halfway houses, according to 2000 U.S. Census figures. Black men make up less than 3 percent of Connecticut's population.

In the state overall, one in 11 black men between the ages of 18 and 64 is in prison, compared to one in 25 in 1990.

"I don't think anyone intended it to be this way, but if you were trying to design a system to incarcerate as many African-American and Latino men as possible, I don't think you could have designed a better system," said state Rep. Michael Lawlor, co-chairman of the Connecticut Legislature's Judiciary Committee.

Similar statistics are seen in Louisiana, where black inmates outnumber whites 3-to-1. Blacks account for only a third of Louisiana's population.

Nationally, according to the U.S. Justice Department, 12 percent of all black men between the ages of 20 and 34 were in prison last year.

This year, more states are starting to direct their money away from incarceration and into prevention and treatment. But despite changes in drug laws, some experts predict that racial bias will continue in the courts, and poverty in the cities will still result in prison time for minorities.

Yale political science Professor Donald Green said more blacks have landed in prison because of the density and poverty of cities, as well as tactics implement by law enforcement. "Drug use is similar in white and nonwhite populations, but the level of enforcement is very different among the two groups," he explained. "Violent crime is more associated with gang activity, associated with drug abuse in minorities, and enforcement is aimed overwhelmingly in that direction."

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Your Turn! Post a public comment (read guidelines):

Name:
Comment: (limit 200 words)
Enter this word (help):	Change

GUIDELINES: 
To keep this feature useful for everyone, please:

1. Keep it clean, courteous, focused, and on-topic. Comments are meant for thoughtful discussion of the article published above.
   
   
2. Do not post personal requests for help or general promotions for your organization (Get help).
   
   
3. Proof your comments carefully, use good spelling and punctuation, and don't use ALL CAPS. Comments are published immediately and cannot be edited.

Deceptive, slanderous and commercially-motivated posts are prohibited. We reserve the right to remove comments not conforming to these guidelines. (Report a comment).

Have questions or feedback? Contact us.