Black Men, the new American Cash Crop            

The United States has more incarcerated citizens than any other country.  According to a recent report by The Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 2002 the U.S. prison population rose by 2.6% over 2001 levels.  All in all, US Federal State and Local correctional facilities held 2,166,260 individuals at the end of last year, according to the report. 

The report also said that 10.4 percent of all black men between the ages 25 to 29, were in prison last year.  It went on to say that "Black Inmates represented an estimated 45%  of all inmates with sentences of more than 1 year".  That works out to 586.700 men. When you consider that The Sentencing Project, estimates a cost of $20,000.00 to incarcerate an average prisoner.   It doesn't take much to speculate that Black men are the cash crop of the millennium.

Speculate is a good word here because that's exactly what the Corrections Corporation of America did when it built the McCrae Correctional Facility in McCrae GA at the end of the year 2000.  And the situation is especially disturbing when you also consider that the company's, stock, (CXW) since December of 2000 has gone from 38 cents to a recent high of $27.36.  In Febuary of 2001 Peter Slevin , of the Washington Post wrote that this company had recently completed construction of a $45 million dollar facility that holds no prisoners.  Just this past November CCA was awarded a contract worth about 109 million over 3 years.  Amoung its investors CCA counts such stalwart American companies as Mellon Financial, Fidelity Management & Research Co, Vanguard Group, and the New South Capitol Management

If you're thinking this is all coincidental think again, according to information also provided by The sentencing Project, The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), is a Washington, D.C. based public policy organization. One of ALEC’s primary functions is the development of model legislation that advances conservative principles, such as privatization. Under their Criminal Justice Task Force, ALEC has developed and helped to successfully implement in many states “tough on crime” initiatives including “Truth in Sentencing” and “Three Strikes” laws. Among those listed as major contributors to ALEC are ; American Bail Corporation, Corrections Corporation of America, National Association of Bail Insurance Companies and Wackenhut Corrections.  Also among its benefactors are General Motors, The Enron Corporation, Exxon, Mobil and coincidentally Fidelity.

This should be a wake up call for everybody who has a Black son, bother, nephew brother or friend in the affected age range.  There is a price on his head.  Street Peace Inc, a community based organization in Boston, MA.  It is trying to do something about this dismal picture of what  is in store for our youth.  An outgrowth of Gang Peace, one of President Bush (the  elder's) Thousand Points of Light, Street Peace has been reengineered to address the deeper needs of the community at large.  Not all of the youth targeted by street violence is in a gang, therefore the focus of the organization has been shifted.   The Mission of the Street Peace Inc. organization, is now to develop and practice methods for bringing about the total rehabilitation of those who are active in gangs, or youths who are known by the organization to be at risk.  Since its inception, Street Peace has realized phenomenal success and accomplishment. For eighteen months, the focus of Street Peace has been on infrastructure development, while working diligently to deliver services to the young people of Boston. Specifically, since June 2001, Street Peace has accomplished the following quantifiable and strategic achievements:

With a focus on the implementation of its two core program areas—Client Case Management & Education/Training and Mentorship & Volunteer Programs Street Peace established a goal of offering direct services to 150 youth during 2002. To date, Street Peace has exceeded that goal with a roster of 177 active clients, and has completed the intake process with a total of 400 youth. Those youth who did not become Street Peace Clients were directed to appropriate service providers in their communities.  For more information about Street Peace and its programs visit the web site at www.streetpeace.org or call 617-282-4447.

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