Does race play a role in the number of maximum period offender is jailed for drug trafficking .Explain

Research Methodology
Among the 2.3 million people in prisons in the United States, 25 percent are convicted for drugs. Despite the fact that whites engage in drug trafficking more than African Americans, reports indicate that the latter are incarcerated on drug charges 10 times, more than the whites do (Athon, 2013). Once incarnated, these drug offenders are often locked up for lengthy periods. There have been numerous calls for mandatory minimums to be abolished because they propagate unnecessary harsh sentences and create racial disparities. This study seeks to establish the validity of these statistics and allegations as a basis for informed future decision.
The overarching aim of this research is to establish whether race is a key factor when a judge is determining the minimum or maximum sentencing guidelines of an individual drug offender. The research questions that will be addressed in the research are:
Is race a determinant in sentencing drug offenders
Does race play a role in the number of maximum period offender is jailed for drug trafficking
Is there disparity of inmates serving jail term
The study will involve 40 respondents (30 prisoners convicted for drug trafficking and 10 social workers). The findings will then be analyzed and interpreted using frequency distribution tables and the respective percentages. The research will mainly seek to collect data from members of a population in order to determine the status of that population with respect to the outlined variables therefore will conduct a survey.
Methodology
The exploratory research approach will be used for this study. The field of inquiry for the focused study of the phenomena are not well understood and interrelationships not well known. This made the inductive-based and qualitative research methodology the most appropriate for this study.
Data Collection
Following the emergent nature of the problem presented in the paper, in-depth interviews were deemed the most appropriate data collection tool for the study. In-depth interviews are most appropriate when collecting information concerning emerging themes and allow researchers enter into individual participant’s perspective. In addition, this approach allows researchers to understand things such as feelings, interpretations, and experiences that cannot be captured through other ways. The tool used in the in-depth interview was the semi-structured approach. The study involves establishing available statistics and experiences concerning disparities in convictions of drug traffickers based on race. In this regard, semi-structured interviews were appropriate since it is less inclined in providing a focus. A total of 40 participants will be selected with the first criterion ensuring a balance between gender, income, and age and the second consideration being a requirement that participants must be serving drug convicts.
Data Analysis Plan
Data analysis is the process of organizing the information collected and relating them to the research questions (Burns, 2014). This study will generate both qualitative and quantitative data. The data collected will be coded and organized in relation to the study objectives. All quantitative data will be presented using distribution tables, pie charts and graphs. Qualitative data will be analyzed thematically based on research objectives and presented, interpreted and discussed using descriptive narrative.

Treatment of inmates’ mental illness
Various literatures have documented ineffectiveness in prison health system for treating inmates with mental problems. Ditton, & United States, (1999) highlights major mile stones in prison treatment services and their failures in offering mental treatments to probationers. The study will aim to establish the effectiveness of mental treatment for prisoners in United States prisons.
Is the prison system ineffective about treatment programs for special prisoner populations concerning the mentally ill?
Are the population of inmates properly assessed for mental illnesses?
Do the social workers have the necessary background in experience and education to best serve the mentally ill?
Are there any extended human or social services available to mental ill inmates after their re-entry into the community?
The study will involve 30 respondents (10 inmates still in prison and 10 released inmates with a period of two months, and 10 prison attendants). The data will be collected from members in order to determine their access of health care in and out of the prison. .
Methodology
The research design will be exploratory with inductive-based and qualitative research methodology. In qualitative aspect, observations will be the main focus.
Data Collection
The data will be collected through in-depth interviews and observations. This will allow the research to engage the participants on the key issues in an objective approach. Therefore, the methodology will help to obtain most accurate information and consecutive data for analysis. Observations will be made on the current health care status for current inmates and those leaving the prison at the time of the study. Randomized selection criteria will be used to ensure that the 30 participants form a good representation of the general population. This will be important in order to obtain a good represented data.
Data Analysis Plan
Data analysis is the process of organizing the information collected and relating them to the research questions (Burns, 2014). The data collected will be classified based on the research questions and objectives in order to make sound inferences for the study. The data analysis will be carried through excel spreadsheet and statistical package of social science, (SPSS). In order to allow the audience to understand the study, the data will be presented in form of charts, graphs, and tables.