QUIZ: How Much Justice Is There In the Criminal Justice System?

No country in the world has a higher incarceration rate than the US, and no country currently has more of its own citizens behind bars.

No country in the world has a higher incarceration rate than the US, and no country currently has more of its own citizens behind bars. The New Jim Crow

Nationally, Black people are incarcerated five times more often than white people. Not only that, Black men get longer sentences than white men for the same crimes. When you look at all the criminal justice trends and statistics, the racial disparities are shocking.

Nationally, Black people are incarcerated five times more often than white people. Not only that, Black men get longer sentences than white men for the same crimes. When you look at all the criminal justice trends and statistics, the racial disparities are shocking.

According to one study, if prosecutors sent even just 10% of eligible offenders to community-based treatment programs instead of prison, it would save $4.8 billion. Sending 40% would save $12.9 billion! Not only that, treatment makes people less likely to re-offend.

According to one study, if prosecutors sent even just 10% of eligible offenders to community-based treatment programs instead of prison, it would save $4.8 billion. Sending 40% would save $12.9 billion! Not only that, treatment makes people less likely to re-offend.

Yes, Black boys are three times as likely to be arrested as white boys. And nationwide, while Black children make up 15.5% of the student population, they account for 33.4% of school arrests.

Black boys are three times as likely to be arrested as white boys. And nationwide, while Black children make up 15.5% of the student population, they account for 33.4% of school arrests.

All across the country, in rich schools and poor, Black students routinely receive harsher punishments than their white counterparts for the same or similar offenses.

All across the country, in rich schools and poor, Black students routinely receive harsher punishments than their white counterparts for the same or similar offenses.

Over the past 33 years, the money the US spends on prisons has grown at three times the rate of school funding. Does that seem right to you? Time to examine our priorities.

Over the past 33 years, the money the US spends on prisons has grown at three times the rate of school funding. Does that seem right to you? Time to examine our priorities.

According to federal data, of the roughly 750,000 people locked up in US jails at any given moment, between 60% and 70% are considered legally innocent. They have not been convicted of a crime. And most of them are there only because they can’t afford to pay bail.

According to federal data, of the roughly 750,000 people locked up in US jails at any given moment, between 60% and 70% are considered legally innocent. They have not been convicted of a crime. And most of them are there only because they can’t afford to pay bail.

Not only are Black defendants more likely than white defendants to be assigned money bail, the bail amounts are typically almost $10,000 higher than those assigned to white defendants.

Not only are Black defendants more likely than white defendants to be assigned money bail, the bail amounts are typically almost $10,000 higher than those assigned to white defendants.

The bail system, in effect, criminalizes poverty, and California was the first state to finally do away with it. Although not all bail reformers were happy with the outcome, we hope more states begin to follow California’s lead.

The bail system, in effect, criminalizes poverty, and California was the first state to finally do away with it. Although not all bail reformers were happy with the outcome, we hope more states begin to follow California’s lead.

It’s taken a long time, but more and more local, state, and national leaders are beginning to understand the benefits of reforming the criminal justice system. The evidence clearly shows that investing in people, not prisons, makes our communities safer. The 10 states that had the biggest drops in their incarceration rates actually saw much less crime than the 10 states that added the most new people to their prison systems.

It’s taken a long time, but more and more local, state, and national leaders are beginning to understand the benefits of reforming the criminal justice system. The evidence clearly shows that investing in people, not prisons, makes our communities safer. The 10 states that had the biggest drops in their incarceration rates actually saw much less crime than the 10 states that added the most new people to their prison systems.