11.01.2015 Views

The Disproportionate Overrepresentation of Minority Youth in ...

The Disproportionate Overrepresentation of Minority Youth in ...

The Disproportionate Overrepresentation of Minority Youth in ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

146<br />

blacks were released while older blacks were recommended to the petition stage. This<br />

effect was not present for any other race/ethnic group. Many <strong>of</strong> the decision makers did<br />

not respond or express any feel<strong>in</strong>g to what may account for the f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g. Other personnel<br />

did not believe <strong>in</strong> the f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

Q. What about <strong>in</strong>take Do you th<strong>in</strong>k, are you aware <strong>of</strong> any race bias there<br />

A. Honestly, I don’t believe they are. I really don’t. Well, we would be<br />

see<strong>in</strong>g greater numbers <strong>of</strong> black kids. I know, if we were to believe what<br />

the black population <strong>in</strong> this town is tell<strong>in</strong>g us, that their kids are constantly<br />

be<strong>in</strong>g harassed by the police, if <strong>in</strong>take were treat<strong>in</strong>g all <strong>of</strong> those cases as<br />

prosecute able, appropriately prosecutable, we would be see<strong>in</strong>g them up<br />

here and we’re not...We do not get large numbers <strong>of</strong> black kids referred up<br />

here for prosecution.<br />

Some decision makers suggested that blacks may at first be given lenient treatment but as<br />

they keep com<strong>in</strong>g back they are then dealt with <strong>in</strong> a strict manner. Some felt that older<br />

blacks are more likely to be <strong>in</strong>volved with gang activity which may account for the<br />

difference <strong>in</strong> treatment. Lack <strong>of</strong> cooperation was also cited as a possible explanation.<br />

This may go back to when I said that we don’t get <strong>in</strong>volved with younger<br />

m<strong>in</strong>orities at the <strong>in</strong>take stage. By the time they get our attention with more<br />

serious and multiple <strong>of</strong>fenses, then they are brought <strong>in</strong> and made apart <strong>of</strong><br />

the system.<br />

I th<strong>in</strong>k it happens because we’ve done the same th<strong>in</strong>gs with the blacks that<br />

we’ve done with American Indians. In terms <strong>of</strong> not do<strong>in</strong>g anyth<strong>in</strong>g with<br />

them when they first come <strong>in</strong> the first couple <strong>of</strong> times. Turn<strong>in</strong>g them over<br />

to their parents and when they do come <strong>in</strong> the third time we pound them...

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!