NCJ Number
239885
Date Published
May 2010
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This brief from the National Juvenile Justice Network addresses the problem of racial and ethnic disparities in juvenile justice systems.
Abstract
Research has shown that current crime policies and school, police, and juvenile court practices have led to a significant increase in the overrepresentation of youth of color at all stages of the juvenile justice system. This overrepresentation, referred to as disproportionate minority contact (DMC), shows that minority youth are arrested, charged, and incarcerated at rates much greater than White youth who have engaged in similar contact. This brief from the National Juvenile Justice Network lists a set of recommendations for dealing with DMC. These recommendations are separated in to three areas that cover commitment, collaboration, and collection of data. Some of the recommendations include the need for States and local jurisdictions to make concrete and firm commitments to end racial and ethnic disparities in juvenile justice systems; the need for the Federal Government, supported by Federal legislation and appropriations, to increase assistance to States and localities to end racial and ethnic disparities in juvenile justice systems by providing additional leadership, training, technical assistance, and grants; the need for jurisdictions to effectively engage key stakeholders to analyze data collected, identify potential solutions, implement systemic changes, and evaluate the ongoing impact of initiated changes; and the need for jurisdictions to ensure that other systems that work with at-risk youth are involved in efforts to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in juvenile justice systems.