NCBCP Headlines
Black females are also victimized by nation's criminal justice system
Dr. Elsie Scott
Chicago Defender
Apr 8, 2009
When the subject of the criminal justice system and its impact on the African-American community is discussed, the emphasis is usually placed on males.
This is understandable if we focus exclusively on numbers. Black males are victimized, arrested and incarcerated in much greater numbers than Black females. For example, in 2007, Black males were incarcerated at a rate of 3,138 per 100,000 Black males in the population; Black females were incarcerated at a rate of 150 per 100,000.
The number of females arrested and incarcerated has been steadily increasing, but the criminal justice system has been slow to make the accommodations necessary to address their needs. The physical facilities and institutional policies are often designed to address a male population.
