What can be done to Address the Incarceration Rate amongst Minorities in this Country?

This is something that has to be dealt with, but how? with what? education? This is something that is going to have to come from within minority communties, it has to be an organic change, its a change they will have to want to make... but... I think the government can help them, but it needs to empower them, a hand up not a hand out.

Quit committing crimes I suppose??

Firstly, end the flawed and failed 'War on Drugs' and parole those convicted of non-violent drug offenses. Second, end welfare and other social services, which disproportionately affect minorities, giving people who cannot even support themselves more money for having children. Third, secure the border and begin systematically deporting illegal aliens which will free up more low-skill jobs for minority men as well as raising wages. Fourth, institute a voucher system nationwide that would give parents a voucher good for the money spent per pupil in each respective school district good for any accredited school within that district. This would help address the problem long-term by giving minorities access to a better education.

The incarceration rate is NOT alarming. It is warranted by the crime rate of these same individuals. The worrisome factor is the lack of parenting provided to these same individuals throughout their lives. These children and young adults need to be taught respect. Respect for their elders, respect for teachers, respect for authorities and most of all respect for themselves. There are other factors which can and should be included, but respect is where it starts.
Bottom line, being a parent requires more than simply giving birth to someone.

Ma Richards of Texas answered this by saying, "if you do a crime in Texas we have a place to put you." I think the high incarceration rate could be reduced by an high reduction of crime in inner cities. Sorry, but the crime rate is what causes high incarceration rates. If fewer people were involved in criminal activity there would be fewer people in jail.

I'm sure most cops would love to write a daily report saying no fights, no drug deals, no thefts and no murders today.

Maybe the parents of said minorities could do a better job of raising said minorities and instilling in them the ability to know right from wrong, that would be the biggest manner in which we could lessen the numbers, IMO.

This may sound crazy, but there seems to be a correlation between committing a crime and going to prison upon conviction...or stop enforcing the laws which call for imprisonment. Or release all the prisoners and call it good and fair that no one goes to jail for committing crimes.

I agree, the recidivism rate of the recently incarcerated also continues to increase as well.

First thing would be to change the laws in regards to indigent legal representation. The U. S. constitution guarantees free legal representation but does not guarantee good legal representation. There are too many young kids going to jail and prison for offenses that could be squashed by any decent attorney. Kids who end up in jail usually find it hard to straighten out after incarceration because of the criminal record they have carry around with them.

This is not to say that county defense attorneys are not good but the simple fact is that they are overwhelmed with cases and underpaid.
One remedy for this would be to have all law school students complete at least three months assisting local defense attorneys during their last year of law school.

The only solution to this is unfortunately the deportation of offenders if they came into the country illegally.

The problem with having the minorities occupying the majority of the jails, is a tragedy but if they are offenders found guilty under the legal system then they just have to pay for their crimes. Is not the majorities' fault that minorities are committing more crimes, or "getting caught more often". There are criminals in all races and ethnicities, thats an unavoidable consequence of human nature and behavior.

Another point of view that can be seen as the common norm for uneducated people, is that minorities are being targeted more. Could it be true, maybe but not absolutely definitive. I am a minority, and never had any issues with the law, but I know a lot of people, that got in trouble with the law for doing unnecessary stupid stuff that could have been avoided.

The community leaders, families, cities, states, and feds all have to come together to address the problems in African American communities. An entertainment industry that glorifies the gangster life style does not help anyone. We can begin with the children to give them a better life and a slice of the American dream. Those that have already become criminals will stay that way for the most part. The same is true for the latinos in America, but with them you have a secondary problem. Newcomers from the south coming in to the US in huge numbers; some of (not all) these people are already criminals which is only going to fill up prisons. They are not going to be a criminal in Mexico and then come accross the boarder and be a productive member of out scociety. The odds are they are members of a Narco gang rather than just a garden variety criminal and were sent to live in the US.