The Disproportionate Overrepresentation of Minority Youth in ...

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Kids need affirmation and a lot of kids of color have found affirmation in
negative ways and that is a real failing of our community. A lot of the
ways they can get affirmation is through negative ways and a lot of those
negative ways are through gangs.
Last, one juvenile court personnel suggested that the disproportionate overrepresentation
of minorities in secure facilities may be the result of too much of an emphasis on prior
record. Too little of an emphasis was believed to be placed on what crimes or activities
comprise the prior record.
...I do think that some of that has to do with the police involvement. They
know that certain neighborhoods are frequented by Native Americans or
that groups of black kids hang out in one area of town. . .1 think the entire
juvenile justice system has a tendency to look at this kid’s record is this
long and this kid only has zero or one or two prior offenses. We tend to
focus on that rather than on what brought them into the system this time.
Maybe this kid has a record a mile long but it’s only for curfew violations
and smaller violations...
Race Findings Specific to Study
Decision makers were asked for their input or feelings concerning the findings
from the first phase of the research. That phase involved the recording of information
from case files on case processing and case outcomes for black youth, American Native
Indian youth, and white youth in Woodbury county.
Younger Blacks Released, Older Blacks Referred to Court
The first race finding was evident at the stage of intake, where an interaction
existed between race and age after controlling for other legal and extralegal factors.
Younger