A generation in prison - Latinos are 13% of the Population and 31% of Inmates in Federal Prison

If you are Hispanic, the criminal justice system does not tnecessarily mean justice for you. A recent study by the National Council of La Raza confirmed once again that the number of Latinos who are caught up in the criminal justice system in this country is excessive and out of proportion. What’s more, the study found that the methods and practices used in the system discriminate against Latinos. Hispanics make up 13 percent of the population in the United States but 31 percent of the inmates in federal prison, according to the study, “Lost Opportunities: The Reality of Latinos in the Criminal Justice System.” Most of the crimes committed by Latinos are non-violent crimes related to drugs and infractions of immigration laws. One illustration of the inequities in the system: although the level of the use of illegal drugs is about the same among whites and minorities in this country, 43 percent of the people convicted on drug-related offenses in the year 2000 were Hispanic. Many of the people who work with Hispanic defendants and inmates do not speak Spanish and many jurisdictions do not have translators. This makes it difficult, if not impossible, for Spanish-dominant inmates to participate in their own defense or advocate for their own rights. Hispanics are the least likely group to be offered the opportunity to participate in drug treatment programs. [more]