NCJ Number
69094
Journal
Urban League Review Volume: 3 Dated: (WINTER 1978) Pages: 41-46
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
BLACKS IN AMERICA ARE THE VICTIMS OF URBAN DETERIORATION AND THE SOCIAL-PSYCHOLOGICAL FORCES LEADING TO LEGAL DEVIANCE. MINORITY RESEARCHERS ARE PERHAPS UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO STUDY THE PROBLEM AND OFFER SOLUTIONS.
Abstract
IN A RECENT OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE DELINQUENCY PREVENTION (OJJDP) REPORT THAT SUMMARIZED THE FINDINGS OF SEVEN RESEARCH STUDIES ON SERIOUS JUVENILE OFFENDERS, THE SERIOUS OFFENDER POPULATION WAS REVEALED TO BE A PREDOMINANTLY MALE, INNER-CITY, MINORITY-YOUTH GROUP. WHILE IT IS GENERALLY RECOGNIZED THAT BLACKS AND OTHER MINORITIES ARE OVERREPRESENTED AS BOTH CRIME VICTIMS AND PERPETRATORS, BLACKS ARE UNDERREPRESENTED IN FRAMING THE ISSUES THAT ADDRESS SOLUTIONS. ALTHOUGH OJJDP HAS CONDUCTED MANY RESEARCH STUDIES SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1974, NO BLACK PRIVATE OR PUBLIC ORGANIZATION HAS PARTICIPATED. THIS LACK OF MINORITY INPUT RESULTS IN PROGRAM EMPHASIS ON THE NEEDS OF THE NONMINORITY AND NONSERIOUS OFFENDER POPULATION, AS WELL AS ON THE DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION OF STATUS OFFENDERS. BLACK INSTITUTIONS AND BLACK SCHOLARS MUST PARTICIPATE IN FRAMING ISSUES OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY PREVENTION AND INSIST UPON OBTAINING THE RESOURCES TO CONDUCT RESEARCH INTO POLICY DEVELOPMENT. GREATER EMPHASIS SHOULD BE GIVEN TO MINORITY COMMUNITY STRENGTHS LONG UNRECOGNIZED OR UNAPPRECIATED BY NONMINORITY RESEARCHERS. A CHART AND 12 NOTES ARE INCLUDED.