Page 205 - Essencials of Sociology

178 cHAPteR 6 Deviance and social control

TABLe 6.3 Comparing Prison Inmates with the

U.S. Population

Percentage of U.S. Population
Percentage of Prisoners Age 18 and Over with These
Characteristics with These Characteristics Characteristics a

Age
18–24 13.3% 13.1%
25–34 32.7% 17.8%
35–44 26.6% 17.1%
45–54 19.2% 18.8%
55 and older 8.1% 33.4%

Race–Ethnicity
African American 37.9% 12.4%
White 32.2% 66.7%
Latino 22.3% 14.6%
Other b 7.8% 6.3%
Sex
Male 93.2% 49.2%
Female 6.8% 50.8%
Marital Status
Never married 48.3% 27.4%
Married 19.3% 55.9%
Divorced and Widowed 32.4% 16.8%
Education
Less than high school 39.7% 12.4%
High school graduate 49.0% 30.7%
Some college c 9.0% 26.5%
College graduate 2.4% 30.4%
a Because this column refers to Americans age 18 and over, the percentages will not agree with other totals in
this book. For education, the percentages are based on Americans age 25 and over.
b Sourcebook places Asian Americans and Native Americans in this category.
c Includes associate’s degrees.
Source: By the author. Based on Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics 2004:Table 6.45.2003; 2011:Table 6.
33.2010; Statistical Abstract of the United States 2013:Tables 11, 56, 236.

half of prisoners have never married. And look at the power of education, a major
component of social class. As I mentioned earlier, social class funnels some people
into the criminal justice system and diverts others away from it. You can see how
people who drop out of high school have a high chance of ending up in prison—
and how unlikely it is for a college graduate to have this unwelcome destination
in life.
For about the past twenty years or so, the United States has followed a “get tough”
policy. One of the most significant changes was “three-strikes-and-you’re-out” laws,
which have had unintended consequences, as you will see in the following Thinking
Critically section.