Sacrificed on the Altar of Public Safety: The Policing of Latino and African American Youth

• NCJ Number: 235849
• Journal: Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice Volume: 27 Issue: 3 Dated: August 2011 Pages: 322-341
• Author(s): Claudio G. Vera Sanchez, Ph.D.; Ericka B. Adams, Ph.D.
• Date Published: August 2011
• Length: 20 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article attempts to show the interconnection between high-crime neighborhoods and schools and how they contribute to the hypercriminalization of nondelinquent Latino and African-American youth.

Abstract

Past research has grounded young people's experiences with the police in their neighborhoods and schools, yet lacking from the literature is how the interconnection between these two domains contributes to the hypercriminalization of Latino and African-American youth. Forty interviews were conducted with nondelinquent Latino and African-American youth who reside in disadvantaged and high-crime neighborhoods. Youths' reports suggest a tidal wave of violence throughout their neighborhoods and schools, coupled with heavy surveillance and policing. Policy implications are discussed in terms of the school to criminal justice pipeline prevalent in disadvantaged neighborhoods. (Published Abstract)