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The study by the North Carolina Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission found that 35 percent of minority defendants received prison time compared with 28 percent of whites with similar backgrounds.

Whites were given longer sentences on average, 36.7 months to 34.1 months for minorities with the same criminal history.

Interesting what is considered "a difference" and what is considered "about equal."

For instance, they are saying that 7% more minorities than whites are getting sentenced, and thus they are "more likely to get caught up in the judicial system." The point being that 7% is apparently a sizable number.

However, if we convert the months they are sentenced into a percentage rate by muliplying the numbers by 2.72... the difference in months between 36.7 and 34.1 is a difference of 7.072%, and that is considered "equitable."

In other words, If whites are serving 7% more time, that is "equitable." If minorities are sentenced 7% more, that is "not equitable." Now why should this be?