NCJ Number
184171
Journal
Youth Law News Volume: 21 Issue: 2/3 Dated: March-June 2000 Pages: 27-29
Editor(s)
Marcia Henry
Date Published
2000
Length
3 pages
Annotation
In April 2000, "Building Blocks for Youth" released a report that documents the significant racial disparities within America's juvenile justice system.
Abstract
The report, entitled "And Justice for Some," looks at critical decision making points within the system and shows that at each stage white youth experience more favorable outcomes than youth of color. The term "disproportionate minority confinement" (DMC) means that youth of color are found at the various stages of the juvenile justice system in percentages greater than their percentage in the general population. "And Justice for Some" examined the DMC issue by focusing on a common set of critical decision points that exist in all States as they process juveniles charged with law violations: arrest, intake, detention, adjudication, and disposition. The study found that, although the disparity is most pronounced at the early stages of processing, it becomes more concentrated as youth move through the system. The report refers to this phenomenon as "cumulative disadvantage." The study also notes that much of the previous work on DMC focused exclusively on the juvenile justice system. With the numbers of juveniles being prosecuted as adults increasing, however, it is important to consider the racial disparities in this arena as well. The numbers at this final stage are even more disproportionate.