Which race/ethnicity comprises the largest percentage of adult inmates?

The largest percentage of adult inmates in the United States is made up of individuals identified as White. This demographic prevalence can be attributed to several factors, including the overall population demographics and structural issues within the criminal justice system. While racial disparities exist in incarceration rates, statistics show that when viewing the population as a whole, White individuals constitute a significant proportion of the prison population.

Understanding this context is vital when examining issues of race and ethnicity within the corrections system, such as disparities in arrest rates, sentencing, and incarceration. Although Black or African American and Hispanic populations are also overrepresented in prison systems relative to their percentage of the overall population, the statistical evidence indicates that White individuals are a larger group of the total inmate population.

This answer reflects broader societal trends and the complexities of race in the criminal justice system, highlighting the importance of examining demographic data in discussions of incarceration and crime.