Race, Ethnicity, Social Structure, and Crime 50 points!! Race, Ethnicity, Social Structure, and Crime Davis Ellis ellisda@seawolf.sonoma.edu 09/16/2013 Sonoma State University

Innocent until Proven Guilty, right? Not if you’re Raymond Towler. The Innocence Project has found over 260 innocent prisoners All have served over 13 years in prison 60% of them are African American This is absolutely absurd! Through the use of DNA by the Innocence Project, over 260 innocent prisoners have been found serving long term sentences for crimes they did not commit. 8% of them are Hispanic. They have served over 13 years of prison time for crimes they have not committed. How are all of these innocent people being locked away? In Raymond Towler’s case no DNA tied him to the crime and he had an allaby that he was home at the time of the criminal act. Due to two false eye witnesses stating that they saw Towler at the scene of the crime he was sentenced to prison and spent 28.5 years there. Although the text book may have not given the readers the full story of this case it is mind blowing that the jury would take the word of two children (11 and 12 year old Caucasians) over physical evidence. It is because of cases like this that we get accustomed to the stereotype of a black offender versus a white victim.

Poverty Status 15 million children High risk of crime victimization No American dream In 2009, 25.8 percent of African American children and 25.3 percent of Hispanic children live below the poverty line in America. Only 9.4 percent of non-Hispanic whites lived under the poverty line that same year which shows yet another huge difference in the racial and ethnic gap. Poverty can affect a child in a very negative way. Children could receive no food and minimum or no education, be a victim in terrible crimes, and even become a criminal themselves. Depending on the circumstance, children can learn to steal from others for personal gain such as eating a meal or staying warm at night. With no educational background they will not be able to find introductory jobs for minimum wage. Children could fall into the hands of professional criminals who commit crimes to stay alive and go in and out of the criminal justice system. Sadly, the data shows that the future for racial minorities is not the American dream everyone hopes for.

Residential Segregation and Crime African Americans and Hispanics High rates of burglary and robbery Peer group influence Social buffer Research by Ben Feldmeyer (year?) shows that both African American and Hispanics are affected by residential segregation. As stated before there is a huge gap in the poverty line between African American, Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites. With this gap comes a residential segregation that brings many problems for the community that does not have the same protection a wealthier community has. Due to high-rate offenders moving in, burglary and robbery are more than frequent. With no positive peer groups for teenagers to hang out with, the children look up to drug dealers, specialized criminals, and gangs. For the families who make a decent living and live a law abiding life they will eventually move out from low income neighborhoods which unfortunately can affect the entire neighborhood. Children will lose positive group influence, potential to do well in school, and lose motivation to get a good job. With the middle class leaving the low income neighborhoods this will affect not only the children but the residents who live there. With the middle class leaving, more low income families will move in and high risk offenders will be able to continue their vicious cycle of criminal behavior.

Crime and Drugs in Poor Neighborhoods Fear Drug Trafficking Gang Violence Crime in neighborhoods can drastically change a family’s life. It can involve personal loss and or physical harm leaving multiple people victims to a crime. Crime in a neighborhood creates fear, leaving a community to wonder who the next victim will be. Families who can afford to leave and usually live a criminal free life will leave the neighborhood. Slowly the neighborhood will decline into the poverty line leaving high risk offenders to be the dominant occupants. Surrounding businesses will eventually shut down or move due to being robbed one too many times. Crack cocaine has been on the rise since the 1980’s and has caused more problems than ever. Gangs have been developed around crack cocaine and with gangs comes terrible violence. Drive by shootings for unpaid crack deals or unwanted dealers in the neighborhood sadly lead to innocent people getting killed. In neighborhoods that have become so involved in the gang and drug life, drug trafficking spreads like a wild fire. Drug trafficking requires multiple people and is highly organized. Drugs are sold to outsiders and in turn these neighborhoods become the main supply for most buyers. With organized drug trafficking, high risk offenders, and gang violence it makes living in these high crime neighborhoods difficult for those who live crime free lives. With no prosocial groups for teenagers to be around they turn to gangs for protection and or mentors.

THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT Dissolved discrimination in public schools Disbanded discrimination in voting Demolished discrimination against employment of women The Civil Rights Act forced the closed minded people to open their eyes and see the world in a new light. Although there is still discrimination, racism, and hate in the world, times are still changing. The generation now and the future generations are becoming more open to new ideas such as biracial couples and same sex marriage. Women are viewed as strong, independent, and capable workers. Today we have an African American president who has not only been in office for one term but is now serving his second. Racism was man made and whatever is created by man can be destroyed by man as well. In future generations we need to teach our children that there is no such thing as racism, discrimination. All people are created equal, and we need to educate our children so they don’t repeat the negative history our ancestors suffered. Maybe we can learn something from our future generation, for an example watch this clip from YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VifdBFp5pnw

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