The Statistics Game

African-“Americans” make-up 6 percent of Wisconsin's population, yet account for 45 percent of inmates in the state's correctional system. This racial “gap” is the sixth largest in the nation. Does that mean other areas actually are more lenient with African-“Americans”?

One participant suggested that, "The solutions have to start with the African-American communities taking responsibility for our conduct and behavior that we continue to engage in that puts us at risk, but we also need the resources made available to us to actually achieve the real impact that we need to have."

So tell the police: “I just didn’t have the resources provided to me to not commit the crime.”

Public forum hosted at UWGB examines racial disparity Commission digs into inequities in state judicial system - by Corinthia McCoy



GREEN BAY — Devone Doss said he's seen first hand the injustices of the Wisconsin Court System.


Doss, 35, of Green Bay, was found guilty of substantial battery in 2005. He received a $1,500 cash bond while another man charged with sexual assault received a $25,000 signature bond. Doss said he also had an attorney from the state's Public Defender's Office who fell asleep during a court proceeding.

His advice to the Governor's Commission on Reducing Racial Disparities: Get the story from someone who has experienced it.

Stories like his were presented during a public forum hosted by Gov. Jim Doyle's commission Wednesday night at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay's Weidner Center.

The more than 20 people in attendance consisted of district attorneys, police officers, community leaders and a Green Bay City Council member.

Green Bay was the final stop for the commission. Previous hearings were held in Milwaukee, Madison, Racine, Beloit and Wausau.

"This was rich with ideas and reaffirming some of the things that we've heard before," said Madison Police Chief and commission co-chair Noble Wray.

The three-hour forum consisted of personal testimonies and ideas presented to the board to address the gap between minority and white imprisonment.

A state Department of Corrections study showed Wisconsin has the fifth largest gap in the nation and imprisons blacks 10 times the rate of whites.

Blacks make up 6 percent of the state's population, yet account for 45 percent of inmates in the state's correctional system. In Brown County, people of color make up 48 percent of Brown County Jail's population but only 13 percent of the county's population.

The commission's objective is to research the possible causes of the disparities and find possible solutions. Antonio Riley, board member and Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority executive director, said Doyle asked the commission to forward a concrete proposal based on information from the forums by October.

"The solutions have to start with the African-American communities taking responsibility for our conduct and behavior that we continue to engage in that puts us at risk, but we also need the resources made available to us to actually achieve the real impact that we need to have," said Richard Harris, founder of 2nd Lyfe, a crime prevention program.

Harris, 35, served nine years in the Wisconsin prison system and said some programs and lack of programs are also to blame for the disparity.

Some programs, he said, are not effective and do not have measurable outcomes.

However board members said the problem is universal.

Be Xiong, an Asian and Hmong liaison for the Green Bay Police Department, said a misunderstanding in cultures contributes to the gap.

Frank Smith, the co-founder of Dad's Club and a former inmate in the Wisconsin prison system, said it's not just racism but a reluctance to fully accept blacks into the community.

"Racism is all over the world, but I'm talking about right here in Green Bay. We've got to do better."