Morehouse Study Outlines Vast Societal Impact of High Incarceration Rate for Black Males

The Morehouse School of Medicine recently released a report entitled, Where Are the Men? The Impact of Incarceration and Reentry on African-American Men and Their Children and Families. The report states that in 2005 there were 548,300 African-American males incarcerated in the nation’s prisons and jails.

According to the report, the problems associated with the high incarceration rates for young males have a detrimental effect on the African-American community as a whole. When black males return to the community from prison, they often bring poor health, a high rate of HIV infection, and mental illness. The poor health of black inmates who return to the community places financial strains on their families.

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