Report says Blacks and Latinos overrepresented in Texas Prisons

More than 70 percent of inmates in Texas prisons are black or Latino, nearly doubling their percentage of the general population. That's according to a report released yesterday by the Washington-based Justice Policy Institute. It says black Texans are sent to prison at a rate five times higher that of white Texans. Latinos were incarcerated at twice the rate of whites. State House and Senate leaders are considering expanding probation and drug treatment programs this session to curb the state's rising prison population. The report found that Latinos have a rapidly increasing presence in Texas prisons. In 2002, Latinos represented the greatest share of new admissions -- 34 percent -- but had the smallest percentage of inmates released -- 26 percent. [more]