Some Data on the Growth and the Unequal Incidence of Incarceration in the US since 1980

September 11, 2008

by

Glenn C. Loury Merton P. Stoltz Professor of the Social Sciences Brown University

Trends in Imprisonment and Offending

A Huge Commitment of Resources

Racial Disparities

The War on Drugs

General Trends in Social Disparities by Race

Median Income of Households by Race

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

1979

1981

1983

1985

1987

1989

1991

1993

1995

1997

1999

2001

White

Black

http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/tables/07s0679.xls

Holzer, Harry J; Offner, Paul; Sorensen, Elaine. 2005. Declining Employment among Young Black Less-Educated Men: The Role of Incarceration and Child Support.” Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, vol. 24, no. 2, Spring , pp. 329-50

Percent College Graduate by Race

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

White

Black

http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/tables/07s0214.xls

Per Capita Annual Hours of Employment for Native-Born Non-Hispanics Aged 25 to 59; 1968 to 2007

500

700

900

1,100

1,300

1,500

1,700

1,900

2,100

1968 1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007

PE

R C

AP

ITA

HO

UR

S O

F E

MP

LO

YM

EN

T

White Men

Black Men

Black Women

White Women

Percent of Native-Born, Non-Hispanic Men and Women Aged 25 to 34 Reporting a Four-Year College Education

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

1968 1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007

Black Men

White Men

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

1968 1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007

Black Women

White Women

$5,000

$15,000

$25,000

$35,000

$45,000

$55,000

$65,000

$75,000

1968 1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007

Black Men

White Men

$5,000

$15,000

$25,000

$35,000

$45,000

$55,000

$65,000

$75,000

1968 1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007

Black Women

White Women

Per Capita Income Reported by Persons Aged 25 to 59 (constant 2007 Dollars)

Median Income of Households Headed by Native-Born Non-Hispanics (shown in constant 2007 Dollars)

$10,000

$15,000

$20,000

$25,000

$30,000

$35,000

$40,000

$45,000

$50,000

$55,000

$60,000

1968 1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007

Whites

Blacks

Percent of Native-Born Non-Hispanics Below the Poverty Line; 1968 to 2007

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

1968 1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007

ImpoverishedBlacks

Impoverished Whites

Recession Periods

Non-Hispanic Whites

Non-Hispanic Blacks

Poor (Incomes Below Poverty Line)

Near Poor (Incomes 100% to 199% of Poverty Line)

Middle Class (Incomes 200% to 499% of Poverty Line)

Comfortable (Incomes at Least Five Times the Poverty Line)

Economic Status of Native-Born Non-Hispanic Whites and Blacks: 1968 to 2007

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

1968 1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

1968 1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007

Median Wage and Salary Earnings for Native-Born Non-Hispanics Reporting Earnings

$10,000

$15,000

$20,000

$25,000

$30,000

$35,000

$40,000

$45,000

$50,000

$55,000

$60,000

1968 1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007

White Men

Black Men

Black Women

White Women

Number of Blacks Elected to Serve in Congress: 1966 to 2006

41

41

37

37

37

38

39

38

25

24

23

20

21

17

16

17

16

16

13

10

6

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

2006

2004

2002

2000

1998

1996

1994

1992

1990

1988

1986

1984

1982

1980

1978

1976

1974

1972

1970

1968

1966

Percent of Married Spouse Present, Native-Born, Non-Hispanic White Women Aged 25 to 34

Married to Black Men, and Percent of Similar Black Women Married to White Men

Percent of Married Spouse Present, Native-Born, Non-Hispanic White Men Aged 25 to 34 Married to Black Women, and Percent of

Similar Black Men Married to White Women

0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

6%

7%

8%

9%

10%

11%

12%

13%

14%

15%

Black Wives Married to

White Husbands

White Wives Married toBlack Husbands

0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

6%

7%

8%

9%

10%

11%

12%

13%

14%

15%

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2006

Black Husbands Married to

White Wives

White Husbands Married to

Black Wives

Racial Attitudes of National Samples of Whites; General Social Survey, 1972 to 2004

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004

Would vote for a black candidate

Would vote forOpen Housing

Law

Believe blacks shouldn't

push

Oppose interracialmarriage

Believe whites have right to segregate their neighborhoods