If black people only make up about 12% of the U.S., why do they comprise about 45% of the prison population?

All of the above and it is based on structural inequity in the system. It is more expensive to keep some one in prison that to send them to college. I propose taking that money and putting it into education, after school programs, housing, medical programs and no private for profit prison systems. I am not black, but I can see what is going on. Powerful people have money, the rest of us struggle. Once we all stop being manipulated, then we can move to change.