SOC 019 Lecture Notes - Lecture 21: Crack Cocaine, Institutional Racism, Criminal Record

• School: University of Vermont
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 019
• Professor: Matsumoto

Document Summary

The primary reason for the prison boom: the war on drugs: nixon. Federal policy to reduce trade and consumption of drugs such as cocaine. However, most people believe that it is a cover for continued institutional racism. These communities tend to be black and latino: powder cocaine is more expensive and less punishable by law and therefore white drug users are not subjected to the same punishments as black individuals who are using crack. Drug trafficking occurs everywhere but police disproportionately target urban low-income neighborhoods. Police target urban areas because the drug deals tend to be more visible in lower class/poverty stricken areas. Mass in(cid:272)ar(cid:272)eration in infle(cid:272)ted (cid:271)y (cid:862)ra(cid:272)e(cid:863) and rationalized (cid:271)y (cid:862)(cid:272)olor-blind rhetori(cid:272)(cid:863). Wide discretionary powers are given to law enforcement regarding whom stop, search, and arrest. Absence of private litigation regarding racial profiling: only federal government can sue, individuals cannot. Wh(cid:455) does ale(cid:454)a(cid:374)der call (cid:373)ass i(cid:374)carceratio(cid:374) of africa(cid:374) a(cid:373)erica(cid:374)s the (cid:862)new ji(cid:373)