NCJ Number
178631
Date Published
1998
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This is the report of a conference that brought together nearly 200 juvenile justice practitioners, administrators, and policymakers to address the problem of the overrepresentation of minority youth in Arizona's juvenile justice system.
Abstract
Following opening remarks from distinguished guests, James C. Howell, former Division Director for the Federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention presented the morning keynote on the history of minority youth involvement with the juvenile court. His remarks focused on the approaching centennial of the juvenile court, as he reflected on its history and looked toward its future. Next, a multidisciplinary panel discussion by presenters who represented Federal, State, and local systems, explored the broader issues associated with minority overrepresentation in the juvenile justice system, so as to provide conference participants a baseline of understanding regarding the issues related to minority overrepresentation and disproportionate minority confinement. The luncheon keynote address provided a "vision for minority youth." The conference continued with a series of six concurrent sessions that explored court and community partnerships, cultural competence in justice system decision-making, the education system's impact on minority overrepresentation, dependency and domestic violence issues facing minority families, legislative and grass-roots advocacy, and cultural competence in mental health treatment programs. The conference concluded with a panel discussion that addressed the media's portrayal of juvenile crime and minority youth, as well as the impact of the media on minority overrepresentation.