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The Disproportionate Overrepresentation of Minority Youth in ...

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blacks (Tables 5, 6). Generally, probation <strong>of</strong>ficers are perceived to treat blacks and whites<br />

equally.<br />

<strong>The</strong>re were two negative <strong>in</strong>terviewees from white youth who felt they have been<br />

treated too harshly. One <strong>of</strong> the white youth was very good at say<strong>in</strong>g exactly what the<br />

probation <strong>of</strong>ficer wanted to hear. This youth figured out how to satisfy the probation<br />

<strong>of</strong>ficer. This white youth said, “When they ask if everyth<strong>in</strong>g’s okay at home, you say,<br />

yes. Even if it’s not. It’s none <strong>of</strong> their bus<strong>in</strong>ess. <strong>The</strong>y should want to know what’s go<strong>in</strong>g<br />

on with you, not your whole family.” <strong>The</strong> <strong>in</strong>terviewer probes this and asks, “I th<strong>in</strong>k the<br />

idea is that the family does affect you.” <strong>Youth</strong> responds, “It does, but some people have<br />

that problem, other people don’t.”<br />

<strong>The</strong>re was one Native American youth and one Hispanic youth that felt probation<br />

<strong>of</strong>ficers did not treat all people alike. <strong>The</strong> Native American youth refers to what he has<br />

heard from friends.<br />

Well, not all. My friends, they’re on probation also. I guess they say to me<br />

I have the best P0 out <strong>of</strong> them all, cuz some <strong>of</strong> them are nice and keep<br />

track <strong>of</strong> you and see<strong>in</strong>g you. From what I hear, I guess I must have a pretty<br />

nice P0. I’m grateful for it.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Hispanic youth responds to the question, “Do you th<strong>in</strong>k they’d treat you the same<br />

way if you were white”:<br />

Yeah. If we all were white. If one is Mexican, they’d treat him different.<br />

<strong>The</strong>y th<strong>in</strong>k it’s only Mexicans, blacks, and Indians <strong>in</strong> gangs.<br />

Trust and Respect

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