The Relationship between Racial Disparity & MN's Changing Demographics

Racial disparities in Minnesota's justice system have been well documented. For 2004, Minnesota's overall racial disparity is more than twice the national average (See Tables 1 and 2). This disparity is most extreme when examining Part II crimes, which generally constitute low level offenses (See Table 2). Racial disparity is evident throughout case processing, as Minnesota's Black-to-White imprisonment ratio is the twelfth highest in the nation (See Table 3). Changes within the justice system over the last decade may also serve to further heighten racial disparities. For instance, in 1998 the average length of sentence for those incarcerated in a Minnesota correctional facility was approximately 3.3 years. However, by 2006 this has increased to over 8 years, due in part to changes in sentencing guidelines (Minnesota Department of Corrections).

The importance of addressing racial disparities within the justice system becomes further evident when examining Minnesota's population growth trends. For instance, since 1980 communities of color increased by over 200% in Minnesota, while Whites were the only race to experience a decrease in population growth - by 9.3% (See Table 4). When examining population growth among youth this pattern is similarly evident, suggesting that Minnesota will continue to experience a significant growth within populations of color (See Table 5).

It is also important to consider other disparities which exacerbate the marginalization of people of color. African Americans, in particular, appear to be facing additional obstacles. For instance, when examining poverty rates from 1980 to 2004 African Americans were the only racial group to experience an increase in poverty - all other racial groups experienced a decrease in overall poverty rates (See Table 6). It is important to note that all racial minorities are reported to have lower mean incomes when compared to Whites (See Table 7). In particular, the income gap between Whites and people of color is most extreme within the Twin Cities (See Table 8). Given these trends, it appears that racial disparities, if left unaddressed, will merely become more extreme in the future; further jeopardizing public safety and hindering local economic growth.

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