Being White is a Get Out of Jail Free Card: An Analysis on Racial Disparities of Drug Convictions in the United States

29 Pages Posted: 25 Jun 2020

See all articles by Hung Vo

Hung Vo

Journal of Race, Gender, and Poverty

Date Written: April 14, 2020

Abstract

In the United States, Black men are five times more likely to be arrested for drug related offenses than White men, however, White men attribute to five times more drug usage. This creates a racial disparity in how racial and ethnic groups are treated unjustly and unfairly compared to White people.

Studies have shown that the war on drugs was a failure and has caused more harm to minorities than it has benefited the U.S. as a whole. Racial disparity can cause socioeconomic effects on minorities. It hinders their chances of receiving jobs, housing, and healthcare.

While marijuana is becoming legalized throughout the U.S., the laws are not addressing or giving a solution to remedy the issue of racial disparity. Instead, the cannabis industry is currently dominated by White males. That is why it is important to implement legislature that directly addresses expungement on marijuana convictions. Expungement can help past offenders to be able to rebuild their lives after being convicted.

Keywords: racial disparity, drub conviction, legalization, criminal justice reform, expungement

Suggested Citation

Vo, Hung, Being White is a Get Out of Jail Free Card: An Analysis on Racial Disparities of Drug Convictions in the United States (April 14, 2020). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3575257 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3575257

Hung Vo (Contact Author)

Journal of Race, Gender, and Poverty ( email )

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