THIS IS POWERFUL!
Poverty and lack of opportunity combined with institutionalized discrimination based on race and income within our justice system are the causes. Discriminatory policing, prosecution, and sentencing are well documented, and even the formerly incarcerated must contend with legal discrimination in relation to employment, housing, education, and voting.
Since President Nixon declared a “war on drugs” in 1971 (a campaign that one of his top aides later confessed was meant to criminalize blacks), the state and federal prison population has increased by more than 700% (increases have continued even during periods of declining crime).