Embracing Diversity, Expanding Common Ground: The Disproportionate Incarceration of North Carolina's Minority Children, Executive Summary

• NCJ Number: 149719
• Author(s): V T Church
• Date Published: 1994
• Length: 18 pages
• Grant Number(s): 91-JS-CX-K006
• Sponsoring Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; North Carolina Division of Youth Services; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

North Carolina's minority youth are disproportionately confined in detention centers and training schools, and the State is mandated by the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act to ameliorate this disproportionality.

Abstract

Since North Carolina has such a divergent pattern of disproportionality, State officials applied for a Special Emphasis Grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Under this grant, data were collected from specific jurisdictions on juveniles accused of and/or convicted of delinquent offenses in calendar year 1990. Specific information was obtained on juvenile arrests, probation, detention, and training school commitments in North Carolina counties. Wide variations were observed among counties with respect to juvenile probation, training school commitments, needs, and services. The largest and most disproportionate offense category involved misdemeanors. The use of detention and the living situations of youths varied greatly. Weapons were not generally used by youths against persons, while the school performance of most youths was similar. Patterns in the use of alcohol and drugs varied, many youths had serious medical problems, and school behavior problems and runaway behavior were common. 18 figures