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The Disproportionate Overrepresentation of Minority Youth in ...

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(58 percent <strong>of</strong> the whites, 55 percent <strong>of</strong> the blacks). Only 18 percent <strong>of</strong> the blacks<br />

198<br />

(compared to 23 percent <strong>of</strong> the whites) felt the police always treat blacks and whites the<br />

same, and 28 percent <strong>of</strong> the blacks (compared to 19 percent <strong>of</strong> the whites) felt that the<br />

police never treat blacks and whites the same (Tables 3, 4).<br />

In the open ended <strong>in</strong>terviews, for the most part, the responses to whether or not<br />

police treat all people alike are quite negative. <strong>The</strong> majority <strong>of</strong> the white youth believe<br />

that the police treat all people alike. Most m<strong>in</strong>orities believe that the police do not treat<br />

all people alike. <strong>The</strong> follow<strong>in</strong>g quotes are <strong>in</strong> response to the question “Do you feel that<br />

police <strong>of</strong>ficers treat all people alike”<br />

White youth<br />

Yeah.<br />

Yeah. Well, some don’t care what they do just as long as they get them <strong>in</strong><br />

jail and they get their job done so then they can go down to the donut<br />

shop.<br />

No. Well, if you be nice to them they’ll be nice to you.<br />

It depends where you are. Some do and some don’t.<br />

No. <strong>The</strong> seriousness <strong>of</strong> the <strong>of</strong>fense makes the difference.<br />

Black youth<br />

Some cops are racial.<br />

A: No. <strong>The</strong>y just like mess<strong>in</strong>g with you because they know you aren’t<br />

go<strong>in</strong>g to do noth<strong>in</strong>g back...<br />

Q: Why do you th<strong>in</strong>k they mess with you Or do you th<strong>in</strong>k they do that to<br />

all kids<br />

A: I th<strong>in</strong>k they be do<strong>in</strong>g it to everybody. <strong>The</strong>y like to follow you. Last<br />

night, my friend got followed. He was walk<strong>in</strong>g and the cops followed him<br />

<strong>in</strong> the car. He was walk<strong>in</strong>g for a long time and f<strong>in</strong>ally he stopped and the<br />

car went on by. <strong>The</strong>y just chased him for the fun <strong>of</strong> it.<br />

Q: Maybe they thought he was runn<strong>in</strong>g from someth<strong>in</strong>g A:<br />

No. <strong>The</strong>y made him run. Every time you see the police

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