http://www.leinie.com
Posted on 11/18/2005 3:16:29 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
Two state legislators want the governor to create a task force to examine why African-Americans are imprisoned at a higher rate in Wisconsin than in any other state, including the states of the Deep South.
Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, and Rep. Tamara Grigsby, D-Milwaukee, are circulating a memo asking their colleagues to join in a written request to Gov. Jim Doyle.
Black said the idea came up after the Black Commentator published a story in July listing Wisconsin as the worst state to be in for African-Americans.
John Odom, a longtime Madison civil rights activist, brought the article to Black's attention.
The online magazine of commentary found that Wisconsin led the nation in the percentage of African-American residents in prison, at 4.06 percent, compared with 0.35 percent of whites.
Iowa was next with 3.30 percent of African-Americans incarcerated, followed by Texas with 3.29 percent and Oklahoma with 2.98 percent. The remainder of the top 10 ranged from 2.85 percent to 2.75 percent.
African-American residents of Wisconsin were incarcerated at a rate 11.6 times higher than whites, according to the Commentator.
"Tamara and I would like the task force to look at what causes the extremely high incarceration rate, and whether everybody is treated the same when it comes to race in regard to arrest and conviction," Black said. "It is a question of fairness and justice, and a significant concern to the African-American community. We would also like to learn what we can do about it - in education, social services, policing and the criminal justice system."
Grigsby said the article in the Commentator provided a prime opportunity to ask state officials to recognize the issue as a problem and a priority.
"I hope we can get some answers to why some of these things are happening, and some solid recommendations for legislative options that may help to address the problem," she said.
Dan Leistikow, a spokesman for Gov. Jim Doyle, said Doyle will consider their request.
"This is something the governor has been deeply concerned about since his days as attorney general. He has launched significant reforms of the corrections system, including a new focus on prevention and treatment," Leistikow said.
Odom said that though high prison rates for blacks had been known for a while, the Commentator article made it clear that Wisconsin was the worst. He said he appreciated Black's responsiveness when he raised the issue.
"My concern was that there is no reason why our progressive state should have such a dubious designation," Odom said. "My feeling was that a blue ribbon task force or at least legislative hearings could bring together the brightest people who have experience and knowledge who could give us new ideas to bring improvement in helping young people get their education and find gainful employment. Their career path doesn't have to include prison."
Odom said the issue is two-sided: Young African-Americans have to be represented adequately in the criminal justice system, but lots of work also has to be done on education and strong family structures.
The UW-Madison's Center on Wisconsin Strategy "State of Working Wisconsin Update" in 2004 identified "a shocking series of indicators where Wisconsin posts shocking levels of racial disparity, often among the worst in the nation" in areas including poverty, unemployment, education and incarceration."
The COWS update for 2005 found that African-American unemployment rates in Wisconsin in 2004 were 16.4 percent, compared with 4.2 percent for whites.
Pamela Oliver, a professor of sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has already studied the prison issue extensively.
She found that black prison admission rates rose steadily in Wisconsin through the 1990s, while white incarceration rates rose modestly.
"A major source of the rise is increased probation and parole revocations, which rose for both races but more rapidly for blacks," Oliver said on a Web site citing research findings.
"By the late 1990s, most black new prison sentences were for drug offenses. Black sentences for drug offenses rose in the 1990s while sentences for serious crimes declined."
Black said he would like to find out why Minnesota has a dramatically lower incarceration rate.
"The point is that our current situation is not acceptable," he said. "A task force can focus attention on the issue, bring in experts and take a serious factual look at the situation, and develop the political resolve to do something about it."
You're right - high welfare and criminal rates go together. Welfare makes the men useless and useless men commit crimes.
I wonder what the rate of single parent households is in the Wisc. african american community? Somehow this statistic and incarceration/crime rates always seem to coincide.
Yep. That's northern Wisconsin for ya, not to mention 99% of the midwest, outside of the big cities of 100K or more.
We're lousy with Germans and Norwegians; mainly because Wisconsin looks so much like Germany and Norway and most of our ancestors tended to stay put for generations. When I was stationed in Germany, it felt very much like home. Much better beer though, LOL! :)
Single motherhood in Milwaukee, WI, our most populated area of the state: (Where I grew up, but I have a Dad. We were a very "unconventional" family):
http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/jul02/56394.asp
60% of births are to single women (as of 2002):
http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/jul02/56397.asp
Here's the reason: They commit more crimes! Proof of a fair legal system isn't blacks and whites having the same likelyhood of getting locked up. Its thugs and criminals being locked up!
Mmmm, beer. I'm enjoying having many brands of (quality) beer at my fingertips.
Could it possibly be due to the fact that they are committing crimes at a rate far greater than whites?
Ocam's Razor, folks.
Because the blacks have been gravitating to a state which for years was very generous in it's welfare handouts.
Many a black has been caught filing for welfare in both Illinois and Wisconsin...I know because my sister in law got 3 or 4 of them in her cross-checking herself, in her government job.
They want all the perks, but they just don't get it that the populace of that state has a very low tolerance for law-breaking. Even 56 miles an hour in a 55 zone will get you an award from the State Highway Patrol. No excuses.
Cause WI's blacks are more felonious than in other states..
Except in states where affirmative felonious activity IS PROMOTED..
Then only blacks or whites with crappy lawyers are incarcerated..
http://www.leinie.com
Probably because those were who did the crimes. What in the world has color/nationality have to do with it. If they can't stand the time they should not be doing the crime.
How are you this morning? No, I haven't tried a Leinie, but I see them everywhere! I've been drinking Salvatore, Capital City Bock, Spotted Cow, East Side and a few others. My favorite is Salvatore, it's a german brew, but the local store doesn't stock it anymore. I want to try Point. I was hoping to see a real Oktoberfest celebration when I got here but I didn't know where to go. I will ask my friends to take me to one next year. I like dark beers the best. Guinness is still a favorite but Salvatore is much more flavorful. In the interim, I've gone back to Bass Ale.
Hey! I just had a 'Spotted Cow' for breakfast, LOL! (Just kiddin'.)
Have your new pals take you to Chippewa Falls to take the Leinenkugel Brewery Tour. It'd be a fun Field Trip, since it's vital you learn about Wisconsin "cult-cha!" ;)
"And some state has to be first."
I'm kinda disappointed we aren't #1
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