Project Milwaukee: Black Men in Prison

WUWM & MPTV Special Series
Why are so many Wisconsinites behind bars?
And, what are the costs?

In the 2010 Census, Wisconsin had the highest percentage of incarcerated black men in the nation. One out of every eight black men of working age is behind bars. In Milwaukee County, more than half of African American men in their thirties have served time in prison.

Over the course of six months, WUWM and MPTV explored Wisconsin's high rate of black male incarceration, through expert analysis and personal stories.

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Chief Flynn Says Policing Not the Cause of High Rate of Black Male Incarceration

By • Dec 20, 2013
Photos.com

A policy analyst and Milwaukee's Chief of Police offer sharply differing opinions on how law enforcement figures into why so many of Milwaukee's black men are in prison.

The Role Driver’s Licenses Play in Black Male Incarceration

By • Dec 20, 2013
Center for Driver's License Recovery and Employability

One issue that’s come up repeatedly in our Project Milwaukee interviews on the imprisonment of African American males is driving privileges.

Report: Nearly 100K Driver's Licenses Suspended Each Year in Milwaukee

By & • Dec 17, 2013
Automobile Association image

Many of Milwaukee's poorest residents are dealing with a double-whammy when it comes to access to employment: poverty and suspended driving privileges.

Black Men in Prison: Stories Behind the Statistics

By • Dec 9, 2013

Wisconsin incarcerates black men at staggering rates. WUWM's Susan Bence talks with eight men living the statistics. They are currently serving time at the Milwaukee County House of Correction in Franklin.

The Role Poverty, Violence and Despair Play in Black Male Incarceration

By • Nov 26, 2013
Photos.com

Analysts and advocates say a wide variety of social and cultural factors contribute to the high rate of African American male incarceration in Wisconsin.

Drug Policies From 1990s Led to High Numbers of Incarceration

By • Nov 25, 2013
photos.com

A study released in spring shows the number of black men imprisoned in Wisconsin began to climb around 1990 and peaked in 2007.

Wisconsin Followed Trend As U.S. Sent Higher Rate of Black Men to Prison

By Stephanie Lecci & • Nov 23, 2013
Photos.com

Though Wisconsin has the unfortunate distinction of having the country's highest rate of black male incarceration, it does fall in line with national trends.

Caring Adults Help Black Youth Steer Clear of Prison

By Bob Bach • Nov 21, 2013

Scores of adults reach out every day to help young people in some of Milwaukee's poorest neighborhoods.

Many of Wisconsin's Black Male Offenders Go Back to Prison, Struggle to Stay Out

By & Stephanie Lecci • Nov 15, 2013
Photos.com

Larry Jackson's first run-in with the law was a stint in a juvenile facility at nine-years-old.  Since then, the Milwaukee man's been in and out of prison, spending about 20 years total behind bars.

Why Are So Many Black Men in Wisconsin Behind Bars?

By & Stephanie Lecci • Nov 13, 2013
Photos.com

The news that Wisconsin has the highest rate in the country of incarceration among African-American men continues to reverberate and many are asking why.

Thousands of Black Men Follow Common Path to Prison

By Erin Toner • Nov 13, 2013

In 2010, one in eight working-age black men in Wisconsin was in prison. WUWM News meets one of them.

Wisconsin's High Black Male Incarceration Rate Concerns Community Leaders

By & Stephanie Lecci • Nov 11, 2013
WUWM

A UW-Milwaukee study released this year shows Wisconsin has the country’s highest rate of black male incarceration, by far.

Reaction to UWM Study: Young Black Men Should Focus on Education and Entreprenuership

By • Apr 22, 2013

Wisconsin has the highest black male incarceration rate in the country.

According to a new study by researchers at UW-Milwaukee, more than 50 percent of black males in their 30s in Milwaukee County have spent time in state prison. The report also points out that time in prison is the most serious barrier to employment, which helps explain the excessively high unemployment rate among African American men in Milwaukee.

Study: Wisconsin Far and Away Leads Nation in Black Male Incarceration

By Marge Pitrof • Apr 21, 2013
Milwaukee County Secure Detention Facility
Mike Steele, Flickr

The 2010 Census informed Wisconsin that it had the highest rate of black male incarceration in the country – well over 12 percent. Now a new examination of the numbers puts Wisconsin not only at the top - but far ahead of all other states when it comes to sending black men to prison.

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