NCJ Number
137417
Journal
Juvenile Probation Tricks of the Trade Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1992) Pages: complete issue
Date Published
1992
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This monograph underscores the importance of including a multicultural perspective in the processing of juveniles through the juvenile justice system and provides some practical approaches and recommendations for achieving an awareness of and sensitivity to different cultures.
Abstract
The need for a multicultural perspective in the juvenile justice system arose in part because of the increasingly disproportionate incarceration rates of minority juveniles nationwide. Research indicates that attitudes, perceptions, prejudices, and biases of juvenile justice system officials may be related to the problem. In addition, changes adopted by education and labor suggest that the juvenile justice system must also begin to accommodate the needs of a growing ethnic population. Practitioners need to be culturally aware to reduce conflicts, misunderstandings, and stress. They can begin to increase their awareness by learning about verbal and nonverbal communication styles of different cultures. Practitioners should also understand what is valued in a culture. Practical ways of increasing cultural awareness are examined, and a cultural awareness training module developed by the National Center for Juvenile Justice is noted. The incorporation of cultural awareness into operations of the Multnomah County Juvenile Justice Division in Portland, Oregon, is described. 15 references