Charleston County men find equality in court; arrests are a different matter, study finds

By: STEVE GARRISON

Black men are five times more likely to be accused of a crime than White men in Charleston County, a racial disparity that increases significantly with drug and gun offenses, according to a new report from the 9th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.

At the request of 9th Circuit Solicitor Scarlett Wilson, researchers from Justice Innovation Lab and Loyola University in Chicago analyzed more than 24,000 criminal charges from January 2015 to February 2020 to determine whether racial disparities exist in criminal prosecutions. 

The Sept. 29 report is the first in a series that will explore the issue, Wilson said at a press conference announcing the findings. 

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