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The Disproportionate Overrepresentation of Minority Youth in ...

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Blacks, Native American Indians Less Likely to be Petitioned<br />

152<br />

<strong>The</strong> next statistically significant race/ethnic f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g was evident at the stage <strong>of</strong><br />

petition. <strong>The</strong>re, black youth and Native American Indians were less likely than white<br />

youth to be petitioned after controll<strong>in</strong>g for legal and extralegal factors. In the <strong>in</strong>terview,<br />

no differentiation was made between blacks and Native American Indians. Thus, the<br />

focus <strong>of</strong> the discussion was on the likelihood <strong>of</strong> receiv<strong>in</strong>g the more lenient outcome at<br />

this stage <strong>in</strong> the proceed<strong>in</strong>gs. Of the decision makers who responded, the theme that<br />

emerged was that the cases might have been dismissed because <strong>of</strong> legal <strong>in</strong>sufficiency.<br />

One <strong>in</strong>dividual responded that this occurrence may be the result <strong>of</strong> the <strong>in</strong>take <strong>of</strong>ficers’<br />

concern with gang activity.<br />

...not filed right, someth<strong>in</strong>g miss<strong>in</strong>g or legal<br />

<strong>in</strong>sufficiency<br />

Really, the only reason the county attorney would disagree or not file<br />

would probably be because <strong>of</strong> legal <strong>in</strong>sufficiency<br />

Q. So it could be because <strong>in</strong>take doesn’t file the problem right<br />

A. Yeah. . .won’t file them, maybe they’re<br />

legally <strong>in</strong>sufficient. That the police<br />

<strong>in</strong>vestigation wasn’t there or the evidence wasn’t there.<br />

<strong>The</strong>y may be send<strong>in</strong>g up what I believe are elevated charges. . .When I get<br />

these cases, I don’t know what race the kids are...<br />

<strong>The</strong>re is some thought that anybody who looks, or claims any gang<br />

knowledge is go<strong>in</strong>g to be referred by certa<strong>in</strong> entities <strong>in</strong> the <strong>in</strong>take <strong>of</strong>fice.<br />

Whether or not there is a real basis for fil<strong>in</strong>g a petition. <strong>The</strong> crime may be

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