Punitive drug policies failed in purpose yet harmed Black life chances

Evidence

Mitchell documents the dramatic shift in both rates of drug sanctioning and racial disparities in drug sanctions that began in 1980 and continued until the mid-2000s, arguing that the rising racial imbalances exhibited in the early part of this time period were driven by changes in drug control philosophy, policy, and practice. This punitive turn in drug control did not achieve its stated goals, but it did negatively affect the life chances of citizens with drug-related criminal records, particularly African Americans. — Joseph Avery, Jim Sidanius, Joel Cooper, Gregory Davis, Amanda N., Bias in the Law, 35