Ayana Gay

Professor Joy McDonald

English 102-11
12 April 2016

Learn now or learn in prison?

Would you rather be incarcerated or scared
straight into doing the right thing? Can you
honestly handle hard time in prison? Well, many
convicted felons dont know this until they end
up in jail and experience the harsh reality of
prison first hand. Crimes in the black
community are an ongoing issue in our world
today.
African Americans are more likely to
end up in prison than any other race. Studies
have indicated one of every three black men will
end up in jail at least once in his lifetime
(Huffington Post 2013). This is statistical data is problematic. We all are familiar with the saying,
You do the crime you will do the time. Children are committing crimes younger and younger
and their lives are ruined before they even reach the age of consent. This is why a policy needs to
be put into effect immediately. We should do everything we can to prevent children from going
to jail to prevent the rate from significantly increasing.
Many of the crimes that end up occurring start at a young age. Kids know right from
wrong but still make mistakes. After doing my research on crime in the black community, I have
found most people who have committed crimes have family members or know someone who is
incarnated which makes their risk more likely to end up in prison. I also found out the motivation
behind why black people commit crimes. Some of these crimes are domestic, gang, and gun
violence as well as drug trading. Gang Violence includes mob activity, robberies and gang shoutouts. Gun violence including possession of a firearm without proper paper work. Drug trading
refers to the possession of a controlled substance with the intent to sell a controlled substance.
Gang violence and gun violence in the black community happen because of tension, vengeance
and unsettled disputes. The drug trade in black communities is a result of addiction, poverty,
greed or a dream of moving to a better area.
We need to educate our young children about the prison system and the effects it can have on
their future. A policy and law needs to be put into affect to help bring the crime rates down. I
propose that every elementary school is required to educate children on the prison system. Many
children are not even aware of what prison is and its purpose. There should be a required
program where ex-convicts are able to speak to our youth about their personal experience in
prison as well as encourage our youth to do the right thing or change bad habits. I also believe
police officers should be a part of this. This will help not only give the officers a chance to share

their personal experiences but also try and build a relationship between our youth and the police
department. Over the recent years, the
relationship between blacks and law
enforcement has gotten worse because
of numerous reasons such as police
brutality. Working with elementary
schools will have a positive impact on
not only the black community but all
areas across the country. I guarantee a
policy like this will scare our youth
straight rather than them being haunted
locked up in prison.

Works Cited

Criminal Record. Digital image. Http://www.rionlawdayton.com/blog/2015/july/comparingfelony-and-misdemeanor-charges-in-ohio.aspx. Rion Rion & Rion, 22 July 2015. Web. 22 Apr.
2016.
Irvin "Twin" of Maryland's Jessup prison berates 13-year-old Sahn on A&E's "Beyond Scared
Straight" Digital image. Beyond Scared Straight, Web. 22 Apr. 2016.

Knafo, Saki. "1 In 3 Black Males Will Go To Prison In Their Lifetime, Report Warns." The
Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 3 Oct. 2013. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.

"Unilingual Signs in Quebec and the United Nations Human Rights Committee." ENG English
Today 10.04 (1994): 40. Aug. 2013. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.