Mass Incarceration rates in the USA

Digital Prints 40 x 30 in

Content: The 1994 Crime Bill
Typeface: Helvetica Bold
Alignment: Justified with last line aligned left.
Artist: Cheryl McBride

The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) says “despite making up close to 5% of the global population, the U.S. has nearly 25% of the world’s prison population. Since 1970, our incarcerated population has increased by 700% - 2.3 million people in jail and prison today, far outpacing population growth and crime.

One out of every three Black men born today can expect to go to prison in his lifetime, as can one of every six Latino men - compared to one of every seventeen White men. Our prison system costs taxpayers $80 billion per year.

The piece on the left represents the race of Males in the U.S. general population. Each word represents
a U.S. Male. 64% is the percent of “White” Males indicated by the color green. 16% is the percent of “Latino” Males indicated by the color red. 13% is the percent of “Black” Males indicated by the color black. 640 is the total number of words.

The piece on the right represents the race of Males in the U.S. who are incarcerated. Each word represents a U.S. Male. 39% is the percent of “White” Males indicated by the color green. 19% is the percent of “Latino” Males indicated by the color red. 40% is the percent of “Black” Males indicated by the color black. 640 is the total number of words.

The data is from the Prison Policy Initiative from the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

The colors are the Pan-African Flag. The three colors on the flag represent: red: the blood that unites all people of African ancestry, and shed for liberation; black: black people whose existence as a nation, though not a nation-state is affirmed by the existence of the flag; and green: the abundant natural wealth of Africa.