The Hamilton and Sentencing Report(s)

Question 1

How do African American men lose years off their lives?

Answer 1

The homicide rates are so high for African American men that they lose more years of life because of homicide (before the age of 65) than they do to heart disease - the leading cause of death in the US. (The Hamilton Report, 2014)

Question 2

How old are the majority of criminal offenders?

Answer 2

Less than 30 years old. (The Hamilton Report, 2014)

Question 3

What percent of known criminals are 11 to 30 years old?

Answer 3

61% (The Hamilton Report, 2014)

Question 4

Which gender commits more crime? What percentage is it?

Answer 4

Males, 73% (The Hamilton Report, 2014)

Question 5

Describe the promising outcomes of the experiments in Chicago regarding youth decision making

Answer 5

Cognitive behavior therapy: They suggest that it is possible to change the outcomes of disadvantage youths by helping them recognize their automatic responses may trigger negative responses *Think of “Stop and Think” from work. (The Hamilton Report, 2014)

Question 6

Describe the adolescent risk behaviors based on family income level

Answer 6

o The use of marijuana is basically the same for lower, middle, upper class. – Use of other drugs is typical of higher income youths. – Selling drugs is relatively the same or slightly less for lower and middle than upper class. However, lower income youths are more likely to attack someone, be in a gang, steal something worth more than 50$ and carry a gun. (The Hamilton Report, 2014)

Question 7

What is the chance an African American man without a high school diploma will be imprisoned by his mid-thirties?

Answer 7

Almost 70% (The Hamilton Report, 2014)

Question 8

What was the percent increase in incarceration rates from 1980 to 2012?

Answer 8

222 (The Hamilton Report, 2014)

Question 9

What were the major contributing factors to the 222 percent increase in incarceration rates between 1980 and 2012?

Answer 9

The sentencing reform act (federal) and state policies like the “three strikes” law. (The Hamilton Report, 2014)

Question 10

How is the federal and state prison incarceration rates different?

Answer 10

The state incarceration rates have decreased by approximately 4% while the federal rates have increased by approximately 8%. This is largely to due the increased amount of immigration related offenses. (The Hamilton Report, 2014)

Question 11

Why is the federal prison rate increasing?

Answer 11

This is largely to due the increased amount of immigration related offenses. (The Hamilton Report, 2014)

Question 12

How much did incarceration for immigration-related offenses increase?

Answer 12

Between 2003 and 2011 admission for immigration related offenses increased by 83%; rising from approximately 13,000 to 24,000 (The Hamilton Report, 2014)

Question 13

In 2012, what was the incarceration rate in the US (including jails, state/federal prisons and private facilities)?

Answer 13

710 per 100,000 US residents remember this is for ALL incarceration (The Hamilton Report, 2014)

Question 14

Why is it typical for the US to have a higher rate of incarceration than other countries similarly in size?

Answer 14

The US has a higher rate of violent crimes; stricter drug laws; and the US also imposes longer sentences. (The Hamilton Report, 2014)

Question 15

What is an example of a difference in sentencing compared to the US and another country?

Answer 15

The average length of time served for a drug offense in the US is 23 months whereas, the average length of time served in England and Wales is 12 months. (The Hamilton Report, 2014)

Question 16

How much did the US spend on corrections at the state, local and federal level in 2010?

Answer 16

We spent more than 80 billion dollars in 2010. Additionally, the expenditures more than quadrupled over the past twenty years (The Hamilton Report, 2014).

Question 17

What is happening with the juvenile incarceration rates?

Answer 17

It has been decreasing since 2000 (The Hamilton Report, 2014)

Question 18

What does juvenile incarceration do to the likelihood of high school graduation?

Answer 18

Juvenile incarceration reduces the likelihood of high school graduation by more than 13 percentage points and increases the probability of returning to prison as an adult by over 22 percentage points. (The Hamilton Report, 2014)

Question 19

How many people are currently incarceration in the US?

Answer 19

2.2 million or over 2 million (The sentencing project, 2014)

Question 20

What percent of mothers lived with their children before being incarcerated? Who are they likely to live with?

Answer 20

64% versus 51% of fathers. They are most likely to live with grandparents but maternal incarceration sends more children to foster care than paternal incarceration. (The Sentencing Report, 2012)

Question 21

How many women are pregnant when they are incarcerated? How many states allow shackling during labor?

Answer 21

1 in 25 in state prisons and 1 in 33 in federal prisons. In all but 13 states (or in 37 states). (The Sentencing Report, 2012)