NCJ Number
196499
Date Published
July 2002
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This document reports on a multi-year initiative to reduce overrepresentation and disparate treatment that youth of color in the justice system.
Abstract
One component of the initiative is research on the disparate impact of the justice system on youth of color, the privatization of juvenile justice facilities by for-profit corporations, and the media's portrayal of crime, youth, and race. Another component is site-based work to achieve reductions in overrepresentation and disparate treatment of youth of color, focusing on decision-making at critical points in the justice system, over-incarceration, prosecution of youth in adult criminal court, zero tolerance policies, Native American youth, and police accountability. Direct advocacy on behalf of youth of color in the justice system is another component of the initiative. This includes issues that disproportionately affect youth of color, such as conditions of confinement in jails, prisons, juvenile facilities, and access to counsel and adequacy of representation in juvenile court. Another component is constituency-building among African-Americans, Latino, Native American, Asian, and other minority organizations, youth organizations, State-based advocacy groups, and organizations in the civil rights, medical, mental health, legal, law enforcement, child welfare, human rights, religious, victim's rights, and domestic violence areas, at the national, State, and local levels. The final component of the initiative is to develop communication strategies to provide timely, accurate, and relevant information to these constituencies, public officials, policymakers, the media, and the public. The partners in the initiative include the Youth Law Center, American Bar Association Juvenile Justice Center/National Juvenile Defender Center, Juvenile Law Center, Justice Policy Institute, Minorities in Law Enforcement, and Pretrial Services Resource Center.