inspection that Blacks are over represented and this has been the case for many years.

Where did these Black prisoners come from and what do they have in common? Two thirds were born in Iowa (44%) or Illinois (22%). The vast majority are from low income urban neighborhoods. About half of those with known Iowa zip codes came from 24 zip codes (there are about 2000 Iowa zip codes). It is likely that a geographical resolution of a city block will be needed to see the true degree of geographical concentration of prison inmate home residences.

The probability that a Back resident of one of these zip codes will be in prison is about five times the probability a white resident of the same zip code will be in prison. The return rates to prison from these zip codes are between 24% and 59%.

When people are released from prison they are normally unemployed and it is very difficult for them to find and keep a job. I did a study of employment rates for persons on probation and parole for all judicial districts  and found the unemployment rates for probationers  and parolees were twice and four times the average rate for the district. Rents are high in urban areas and I suspect that one of the factors responsible for the high geographic concentration is poverty because people are forced to crowd into low income housing projects.

When people are forced to live in close proximity tempers can flare. In my community there are very high rates of calls to the police for assistance from low income neighborhoods. It is natural that the police will respond to the high call rate by increasing the frequency of patrols or opening a police substation in the neighborhood. The police also have a professional interest in persons who are the source of complaints or are on probation or parole. All of these factors contribute to a high arrest rate and an unemployed poor person is much more likely to be detained in jail after initial appearance than an employed person (even more so if they have a record) who has the ability to bond out.

If the police are responding to a complaint about a felony level offense they have essentially no discretion about making an arrest. Most of the prison inmates entered prison because they plea bargained on a new charge (they plead guilty to something serious enough to result in a prison sentence) or because of a revocation of work release, probation or parole.  If there is racism (I am not saying it is but I think it could be) in the criminal justice system it is most likely to be because it is built into the plea bargaining process.

Educational, Social, and Judicial.

Educational- The Walt Cunningham School is a groundbreaking success! It should not only be celebrated, but expanded into the middle, and high school. The community must rally around the school as the critics are hungry and seeking to destroy or undermine the great success of the academic program. The school's gender specific programming, teachers that stay with students over multiple years, mandatory home visits between teachers, and parents, teachers that are committed, passionate, and caring, an administration led by a true leader for educational excellence. These elements make this school an outstanding educational success. The model is in place, expand and explore!

Social-Our children have lost their sense of identity. The Honorable Minister Michael Muhammad is absolutely correct in stating we must have knowledge of one-self, and this begins and ends in the black community. I believe strongly black churches need to feed our youth both spiritually and historically. The Nation of Islam is a great advocate of teaching our men and women their value, history, and responsibility. We need to build alliances in our own community to build on our strengths, not discuss our differences. This is about our children, not our religious differences! We need to take our youth back. There was a time when respect for our elders was a paramount teaching in our community. The word yes ma'am, and no sir, were a matter of respect and was spoken with out question. Today when children attempt to say yes ma'am, or no sir, they are told by adults, “I'm not that old, you don't have to say that to me!” It's not about your age; it's about teaching our young people to respect their elders, the ones that have blazed the trail. And we wonder why they refer to each other as B—-tches, N—er, and Wh—re. I am a believer it begins with the simple teachings. Teach a child as you would have them to go and they WILL NOT Depart from it. I have taught my children who are grown to speak yes ma'am and no ma'am, and I am teaching my grandchildren the same. It is but one step, but it is a mighty step.

Judicial-There is not doubt by anyone who has the capacity of mind that racism IS alive and well in our judicial system. This is not new in our history. Each time any strides were made by African Americans legally or judicially new laws would be passed that would again “legally” be used as a set back for us economically, educationally, and politically. But there has never been a time like this for us before. We have the ability and the opportunity to identify, train, and ELECT African Americans to office. Debra Berry is doing a FANTASTIC job, but she can't do it alone. We need more African Americans in elected positions. We must steer our young people into the legal profession, we need more attorneys, judges and legislators. Laws are made and passed in the legislature, and Iowa Senate. We must VOTE. We must instruct our people of the process for restoration of voting rights after their rights have been revoked due to criminal charges. Many of the judges sitting on the bench are elected officials. Their records should be published and we must vote to retain their seat or to take them off the judicial seats. Vote for school board members! There is no dispute among us the importance or the role education plays in the over representation of black youth in incarceration. Yet school board voter turnout is the lowest of all annual voting. Why is that? Many of our issues are dependant on the collaboration, and support of people outside of our community. Much is not. Teach our young men to pull their pants up. If I want to see your underwear I will do your laundry! Teach our young women to respect their bodies, and themselves. Teach our young people to be responsible to their elders, each other, and their community. Complex, I for one don't think so

Educational, Social, and Judicial.

Educational- The Walt Cunningham School is a groundbreaking success! It should not only be celebrated, but expanded into the middle, and high school. The community must rally around the school as the critics are hungry and seeking to destroy or undermine the great success of the academic program. The school’s gender specific programming, teachers that stay with students over multiple years, mandatory home visits between teachers, and parents, teachers that are committed, passionate, and caring, an administration led by a true leader for educational excellence. These elements make this school an outstanding educational success. The model is in place, expand and explore!

Social-Our children have lost their sense of identity. The Honorable Minister Michael Muhammad is absolutely correct in stating we must have knowledge of one-self, and this begins and ends in the black community. I believe strongly black churches need to feed our youth both spiritually and historically. The Nation of Islam is a great advocate of teaching our men and women their value, history, and responsibility. We need to build alliances in our own community to build on our strengths, not discuss our differences. This is about our children, not our religious differences! We need to take our youth back. There was a time when respect for our elders was a paramount teaching in our community. The word yes ma’am, and no sir, were a matter of respect and was spoken with out question. Today when children attempt to say yes ma’am, or no sir, they are told by adults, “I’m not that old, you don’t have to say that to me!” It’s not about your age; it’s about teaching our young people to respect their elders, the ones that have blazed the trail. And we wonder why they refer to each other as B—-tches, N—er, and Wh—re. I am a believer it begins with the simple teachings. Teach a child as you would have them to go and they WILL NOT Depart from it. I have taught my children who are grown to speak yes ma’am and no ma’am, and I am teaching my grandchildren the same. It is but one step, but it is a mighty step.

Judicial-There is not doubt by anyone who has the capacity of mind that racism IS alive and well in our judicial system. This is not new in our history. Each time any strides were made by African Americans legally or judicially new laws would be passed that would again “legally” be used as a set back for us economically, educationally, and politically. But there has never been a time like this for us before. We have the ability and the opportunity to identify, train, and ELECT African Americans to office. Debra Berry is doing a FANTASTIC job, but she can’t do it alone. We need more African Americans in elected positions. We must steer our young people into the legal profession, we need more attorneys, judges and legislators. Laws are made and passed in the legislature, and Iowa Senate. We must VOTE. We must instruct our people of the process for restoration of voting rights after their rights have been revoked due to criminal charges. Many of the judges sitting on the bench are elected officials. Their records should be published and we must vote to retain their seat or to take them off the judicial seats. Vote for school board members! There is no dispute among us the importance or the role education plays in the over representation of black youth in incarceration. Yet school board voter turnout is the lowest of all annual voting. Why is that? Many of our issues are dependant on the collaboration, and support of people outside of our community. Much is not. Teach our young men to pull their pants up. If I want to see your underwear I will do your laundry! Teach our young women to respect their bodies, and themselves. Teach our young people to be responsible to their elders, each other, and their community. Complex, I for one don’t think so

Where did these Black prisoners come from and what do they have in common? Two thirds were born in Iowa (44%) or Illinois (22%). The vast majority are from low income urban neighborhoods. About half of those with known Iowa zip codes came from 24 zip codes (there are about 2000 Iowa zip codes). It is likely that a geographical resolution of a city block will be needed to see the true degree of geographical concentration of prison inmate home residences.

The probability that a Back resident of one of these zip codes will be in prison is about five times the probability a white resident of the same zip code will be in prison. The return rates to prison from these zip codes are between 24% and 59%.

When people are released from prison they are normally unemployed and it is very difficult for them to find and keep a job. I did a study of employment rates for persons on probation and parole for all judicial districts  and found the unemployment rates for probationers  and parolees were twice and four times the average rate for the district. Rents are high in urban areas and I suspect that one of the factors responsible for the high geographic concentration is poverty because people are forced to crowd into low income housing projects.

When people are forced to live in close proximity tempers can flare. In my community there are very high rates of calls to the police for assistance from low income neighborhoods. It is natural that the police will respond to the high call rate by increasing the frequency of patrols or opening a police substation in the neighborhood. The police also have a professional interest in persons who are the source of complaints or are on probation or parole. All of these factors contribute to a high arrest rate and an unemployed poor person is much more likely to be detained in jail after initial appearance than an employed person (even more so if they have a record) who has the ability to bond out.

If the police are responding to a complaint about a felony level offense they have essentially no discretion about making an arrest. Most of the prison inmates entered prison because they plea bargained on a new charge (they plead guilty to something serious enough to result in a prison sentence) or because of a revocation of work release, probation or parole.  If there is racism (I am not saying it is but I think it could be) in the criminal justice system it is most likely to be because it is built into the plea bargaining process.