Those covered under the '3 strikes you're out' program in CALIFORNIA are BOTH black and white as well as other ethnic groups. There are white males in jail for 25 years for stealing bicycles-that is a fact TOO. That law is across the board regardless of the ethnic background of the individual.

Now as for the length of time served for crimes in other states, I do not dispute that has a lot to do with the funds available to the individual to pay for a good legal defense-which many times means that minorities serve longer sentences for the same crime. There is also possible racial profiling involved in many situations.

Now for drug crimes-GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!!!!! I do not dispute that many white affluent males break the law when it comes to drugs, but I DID MY TIME AS A TRANSLATOR FOR DRUG ENFORCEMENT thank you very much, and I SAW with my OWN EYES who was breaking the law. More minorities broke the law in regards to drugs while I was there than ANY OTHER ETHNIC GROUP. If you do the crime, you do the time in my opinion regardless. Now, if MORE MINORITIES ARE DOING THE CRIME FOR ECONOMIC REASONS, that is A WHOLE SEPARATE ISSUE which needs to be addressed.

Also, I believe the issues I wanted you to justify was the statement that you believed that the U.S. was one of the worst in regards to human rights violations due to the number of people in our prisons. I applaud your research and value your information you have gathered, yet I still don't see that view justified.

GREAT DISCUSSION Stephen! Thanks! :o)

Tracy


>There is so much on this issue – well it would take too long. So I’ll link. First for some good coverage of the “drug war” or should I say the “unfair drug war” check out ( http://www.salon.com/news/special/drug_war/ ). Next America and human rights:
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>Amnesty International: “The USA was the only country in the region to carry out executions, including the first two federal executions since 1963. The 66 people put to death in the USA included some with mental impairment and one prisoner who was under 18 at the time of the crime. In a landmark ruling the International Court of Justice found the USA had breached its international obligations by denying German citizens Karl and Walter LaGrand -- executed in 1999 -- their right to communicate with their consulate. Death sentences continued being passed in all the region's retentionist countries, but a halt in executions in Cuba indicated that an informal moratorium is in place.”
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>I’m sorry – the issue was prison. Do you really think we just have more crime in this country? I mean are you guy’s blind? With the 3 strikes law – plenty of people (most of them Black I might add) are in jail for petty drug crimes. It’s a class divide. I’ll put it too you this way – If I got busted with a gram of pot – I’d probably get probation with a lot of community service because I have the money too mount a good defense. Can that be said for everyone else in this country? In America, justice is fair for those who can afford it. The rest rot in jail. As for proof, pick up a paper. Read who's going to jail and who isn't.
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>Are the Enron guys in jail? Of course not. But, a black man smoking a joint - now he's in for 10 years. Justice. Who's act hurt more people?