NCJ Number
180846
Date Published
1998
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This paper highlights Pennsylvania's strategic approach to addressing disproportionate minority confinement and presents current data analysis regarding minority overrepresentation in the State's juvenile justice system.
Abstract
With leadership from the State Juvenile Advisory Committee's Minority Confinement Subcommittee and funding support through Title V of the Federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, Pennsylvania officials have developed a nationally recognized effort to address and reduce disproportionate minority confinement in its juvenile justice system. An assessment of the problem documented that minority groups continue to be over-represented in early stages of case processing. Disproportionate minority confinement may continue to stem from disparate decision-making at key early points in delinquency cases. Based on its initial research, the subcommittee determined that the best course of action was to develop prevention and intervention initiatives that will slow the entry and re-entry of minority juveniles into the justice system. The plan targeted geographic areas of the State where the problem was most prevalent. The subcommittee continues to quantify minority overrepresentation annually so as to track progress over time in reducing the proportions of minorities involved in the juvenile justice system. 4 figures and 3 references