Disproportionate Minorities in Iowa Prisons (#131)

Original Air Date: Monday, January 21, 2008

Iowa has a smaller minority population than most states, but a sizable portion of that sector is in prison. According to the Washington, D.C. based Sentencing Project, Iowa ranks number 1 in the nation in the disproportion of blacks to whites in prison.

The study found blacks in Iowa are nearly 14 times more likely to be incarcerated than whites. Currently, a task force, appointed by Governor Culver is assessing that disparity. The numbers indicate the imbalance extends into other institutions like juvenile detention and even schools.

The Iowa Journal discusses the challenges in fighting this status with representatives from the Iowa Juvenile Justice System's new task force.

Program guests include Brad Richardson, director of the DMC Resource Center which is connected with The University of Iowa School of Social Work; and David Goodson from the Family & Children Council in Waterloo and Social Action, Inc. Also on the program David Pitt of the Associated Press shares his insights on Iowa's headline news.