Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlight: Understanding Crime Data and Systemic Challenges

National Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 each year, celebrating the culture and history of communities that originate from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
First introduced as a week of celebration in 1968, it expanded into a month-long recognition of diversity by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 and has remained that way since.

This 30-day period incorporates the anniversary of independence for several Latin American countries. Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua celebrate on the first day of Hispanic Heritage Month, while Mexico and Chile celebrate on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18.

As a bail bond company rooted in and committed to serving diverse communities, we recognize the unique and often complex relationship between Hispanic/Latino individuals and the U.S. criminal justice system. Meaningful change begins with acknowledging these realities and working to better understand and address the challenges they face.

Hispanics/Latinos are overrepresented in the U.S. criminal justice system

Hispanic individuals are overrepresented in the United States justice system, with adults being incarcerated at a rate that is 2.9 times higher than that of White individuals. Data shows that only 57% Latinos 25 years and older have a high school diploma, and that Latinos have also had a continuously high poverty rate through the decades. Low education and high poverty have both been associated with the increase in likelihood of making contact with the criminal justice system, which suggests that these factors contribute to the overrepresentation of Hispanics and Latinos in the U.S. Justice System.

Recognizing these systemic issues may provide enough incentive for policymakers to make efforts to help Hispanic/Latino communities, which in turn could help decrease the number of people who are incarcerated.

Inaccurate data about Hispanics/Latinos in the U.S. criminal justice system

In the United States, there is a concerning lack of adequate data on Latinos and Hispanics in prison populations. Many states do not offer the appropriate options on paperwork regarding race and ethnicity, making it difficult for individuals to choose what they identify as. Additionally, some institutions leave it to officials to decide the race/ethnicity of the inmate, leaving room for inaccuracy.

Certain states have Hispanic/Latino listed as a race, only allowing a choice between Hispanic and White/Black. This eliminates the opportunity for people to identify as a Black Hispanic or a White Hispanic, as ethnicity and race are not interchangeable. Race is a social category based on physical appearance, while ethnicity is founded on shared ancestry, culture, and traditions.

This inaccurate data makes it difficult to assess how the criminal justice system affects Latinos accurately. During policy-making, research is crucial as it provides evidence-based decisions and avoids bias. Without the proper data on Hispanic communities, this leaves an entire ethnicity susceptible to neglect in policy.

What changes can be made?

If we want Latinos to be represented accurately, we must improve the system for collecting data. Every facility should have a section for both race and ethnicity, as they are not interchangeable. Additionally, it should remain up to the inmate to choose what they identify as to avoid inaccuracy. Latinos come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. If it were left to an employee of the institution, they may not realize that the inmate is of Hispanic descent.

As a nation, it would be beneficial to make bail and legal help more accessible to those who don't speak English. Latinos who are arrested and don't have access to bilingual workers may find it hard to defend themselves in a court of law. They may also not know how to post bail on their own.

Recognizing the disparities faced by Hispanic and Latino individuals in the criminal justice system, 3-D Bail Bonds is proud to have a dedicated team of bilingual professionals ready to assist those who may struggle with English. With team members from Peru, Puerto Rico, and other Latin American backgrounds, we're deeply committed to serving and uplifting Hispanic and Latino communities across Connecticut with compassion and understanding.

Post contribution by Ava Alers, 3-D Bail Bonds Intern

Sources:
https://3dbailbonds.com/bail-bondsmen-every-ct-town-open-24-hours/
https://3dbailbonds.com/bienvenido-fiadores/
https://static.prisonpolicy.org/scans/sp/1051.pdf
https://csgjusticecenter.org/2021/10/12/how-are-hispanic-individuals-represented-in-the-criminal-justice-system/

3-D Bail Bonds Inc
57 Fishfry St
Hartford CT 06120

Trusted Since 1997 - 3-D Bail Bonds, Connecticut's Top-Rated Bail Agency

With over two decades of experience, 3-D Bail Bonds has been proudly serving Connecticut communities with fast, reliable, and affordable bail services. Headquartered in Hartford, our agency is equipped to respond statewide-often within minutes of your call.

Our licensed and knowledgeable agents are committed to making the bail process as smooth and cost-effective as possible. We believe bail should never be excessive, but fair-designed to ensure a defendant's return to court while respecting their rights.

This release was published on openPR.