A study is being done by Andrews University, working with Berrien County and Interfaith Action of Southwest Michigan, on racial disparities in the inmate population at the Berrien County Jail. The percentage of inmates who are Black is higher than the percentage of the Berrien County population that is Black. ALPACT’s Dr. Larry Feldman tells WSJM News the study will look at length of jail stay, whether an inability to make bail is a factor, and more.
“We will be looking at the number of types of charges, trying to determine if there’s a racial disparity along those lines,” Feldman said. “There are some national data indicating that, on average, people of color receive a greater number of charges.”
Sheriff Paul Bailey tells us the study could lead to new programs to help people change their lives.
“We need to see why that is happening and what we can do with programs so we don’t see people violating the law and coming to jail,” Bailey said. “I think it’s a positive thing. We don’t anybody coming to jail. I’m hoping that we can have different alternative programs out there that can help anybody change their lives around.”
Bailey says if the study can lead to programs that help more people stay out of jail, he’s in favor of it. Feldman says African Americans are about 40 to 45% of the county jail population, and approximately 14% of the Berrien County population. It’s hoped the Andrews study on this disparity is completed by the end of the summer. When it is finished, the findings will be published.
