Blacks arrested in Colorado at 3 times the population rate

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

Blacks arrested in Colorado at 3 times the population rate
December 24, 2016

DENVER: African-American men and women in Colorado were disproportionately arrested or issued citations last year, and were more likely to be sentenced to prison than other racial groups, according to a state-commissioned study released on Thursday.

Despite comprising just 4.2 per cent of the state’s population, blacks accounted for 12.4 per cent of arrests and criminal summonses, according to the report by the Colorado Department of Public Safety.

Civil liberties activists welcomed the report as long overdue.

“Communities of color for a long time have felt that they are stopped and arrested more than others,” Denise Maes, public policy director for the American Civil Liberties Union’s Colorado chapter, said in a telephone interview.

Read more: http://gulftoday.ae/portal/d87a2447-45ab-40c0-ba30-e88d16a57bc5.aspx

[guillaumeb]

1. Given that conservatives tell us that racism is not a problem anymore,

what can we conclude?

A) Non-whites simply commit more crimes, or

B) Racism is just as entrenched today as it was in 1850? It simply was transformed from codified racism, racism de jure, to de facto racism that is just as rigid without being put into words?

[uponit7771]

2. expect it to get 3 times worse during Benedict Donald's Reich

[mountain grammy]

6. So true.. I live in the mountains.

Grand County. Winter Park and Fraser go Democratic, but the rest of the county is redneckistan. This last year, I've spent more and more time in Denver and I'm ready to return.

[Drahthaardogs]

10. That's bullshit

Lots of Hispanic counties with ties to coal and steel that are very democratic.

[mountain grammy]

11. Oh really?

the only reason we send a Dem to Congress is because our district includes Boulder. Drive though coal country, Co sometime.. you'll see "coal keeps the lights on" signs everywhere and they went for Trump. Pueblo, while still Democratic, is no longer a steel town..
Bullshit to you pal, you're no where near Colorado. You're not even in America. Coal country didn't go Democratic, and steel? What steel?

[Drahthaardogs]

12. It is bullshit

I and I was just in Pueblo and there are no coal keeps the lights on signs, but they still outnumber Republicans three to one. It used to be five to one though.. I was there when the south used to vote Democratic and Denver voted Republican. Hillary was a weak candidate. Bernie would have won Las Animas and Huerfano counties, maybe even on the other side of the San Luis Valley. We ran the wrong candidate. Enough with the conspiracy theories. The country was ripe for a new movement. One side picked a radical fascist, and the other ran another "good ole boy". Comey did not help, but this is on the DNC.

[mountain grammy]

13. I can't even think that..

I don't believe anyone who heard the message of Bernie Sanders would vote for Trump. Bernie won big among Democrats here, but everyone I know who supported Bernie (and in our tiny county I know many) went for Hillary. They knew it was the platform that was important and Bernie's influence was everywhere.
Non wealthy people voted trump to burn down the system. No positive there at all. Nothing, nothing. All hate, all negative.
Wealthy people voted trump for their own selfish interests, whatever they may be.
The "coal keeps the lights on" signs were in Craig, Co. and all through that area. Used to be several coal trains a day going though the county. Much fewer now. These people are chasing a dying industry.

[madville]

4. I think two major factors are

Poverty and location.

A quick look shows that whites in Colorado have around a 9% poverty rate in both the Denver area and then everywhere else in Colorado as well. Blacks have a 35% poverty rate in Denver and 24% in the rest of the state. The poverty rate averages out to about 3x higher, just like the arrest stats.

Police presence is also more concentrated in more densely packed population centers like Denver and poor minority communities are typically in these cities versus out in rural areas.

The answer, in my opinion, is to get more people out of poverty. Black and Hispanic people in middle-higher income brackets have arrest rates comparable to whites.

The argument can of course be made that racism plays a huge role in poverty levels/economic status which in turn leads to higher arrest rates.

[JI7]

5. it happens to black people who live in wealthier areas also

And have money and nice cars.

[mountain grammy]

7. +1

[Igel]

8. That's what's said.

Finding the data, though, is a bit difficult.

One doesn't argue with perception. That's driven by abundant "anecdata", and then there's always the backfire effect.

[heaven05]

9. in this country

it has ALWAYS been about race. White? Right. Black? Get back. Always!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!