At about the 5 minute mark in this video, Princeton Professor Harris-Lacewell talks about how the Census which is used to id federal $$$ by communities undercounts black and brown communities by counting prisoners in the counties where they are incarcerated rather than their home communities, ie where they come from and most likely to return. She specifically cites Illinois as example where the Illinois Department of Correction (IDOC) prisons are all downstate and disproportionately populated by African-American and Latino youth from Chicago-area and other urban centers, in the state. If I remember correctly, the federal government ships about $10,000 per person back to the states, based on the census. Prisons are a significant economic development tool in downstate Illinois communities. Recently, one such community won federal approval to house terrorists from Gitmo and advocates argued this was a major job creation and economic development benefit for this region. Should downstate communities, which already benefit from construction and prison jobs associated with IDOC prisons, rather than the home communities where prisoners are more likely to return upon release----- also obtain these additional federal $$$, since they don't have to provide any benefits for prisoners? Chicago Mayor Daley and many others say one of the biggest challenges facing their city is finding employment for exoffenders. What do you think?
Link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#34776096 (sent via Shareaholic) 
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