Preliminary Research Report on Phase I of Oregon's Participation in the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Disproportionate Minority Confinement Program

• NCJ Number: 151788
• Author(s): J P Heuser
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 60 pages
• Grant Number(s): 91-JS-CX-K010
• Sponsoring Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP); Oregon Community Children and Youth Services Cmssn
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services; Oregon Community Children and Youth Services Cmssn
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This report summarizes preliminary findings on the extent of minority group overrepresentation in Oregon's juvenile justice system, based on Statewide data and on data gathered through focus group interviews conducted in three pilot counties.

Abstract

Oregon's Phase I research under the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's (OJJDP's) Special Emphasis Minority Program Initiative aims to identify the extent and nature of racial discrimination in the juvenile justice system, to develop program strategies to respond to the problem, and to evaluate the effectiveness of these approaches. The summary data indicate that minority youth, particularly blacks, are overrepresented at nearly every juvenile justice system decision point and across all the three pilot counties. The overrepresentation of Native American and Hispanic youth appears to be more sporadic, with no discernable pattern. Participants in the focus group interviews suggested that the availability of services and other resources, including prevention and restorative programs, are lacking for minority youth. In addition, youths who are at high risk for gang involvement or other violent activities are especially likely to be closed off from access to needed services. 3 tables, 5 figures, and 3 appendixes