Oakland, CA: African Americans and other minorities are over-represented in every stage of the juvenile justice system — from arrest to detention to adjudication and sentencing, according to the findings of a new report published by the National Council on Crime and Delinquency.
According to the report, minority youth typically receive harsher treatment than white youth for similar offenses, particularly drug crimes.
“Despite significant governmental efforts, the problem of disproportionate minority incarceration has not improved,” the report states. “Throughout the system, youth of color — especially African American youth — receive different and harsher treatment for similar offenses.”
Full text of the report, “And Justice For Some: Differential Treatment of Youth of Color in the Justice System,” is available online from the National Council on Crime and Delinquency at:
http://www.nccd-crc.org/nccd/n_index_main.html.