Racial Equity & Youth Justice | University at Albany

Racial Equity & Youth Justice
Racial Equity & Youth Justice
Racial Equity & Youth Justice
Racial Equity & Youth Justice

Racial Justice Resources

Our Commitment to Racial Justice

The New York State Youth Justice Institute stands in solidarity with communities of color worldwide suffering police violence and disparate treatment in justice systems.

In the past two decades, the United States has experienced a significant and consistent decline in youth crime and youth involvement with the juvenile justice system. However, a concurrent drop in racial and ethnic disparities (R.E.D) in youth justice systems has not materialized. National analyses of youth justice data clarify that while Black youth comprise only 15% of the country's youth population, they made up 35 percent of youth arrests in 2016. Disparities for the youth of color persist at all system points. For example, Black and Hispanic youth are 4.1 and 3.1 times, respectively, to be placed in secure placement facilities than their white peers. And, as arrests and court referrals decreased for all youth between 2010 and 2016, the rates decreased less for American Indian and Alaska Native youth.

Within its mission to disseminate information and support localities across New York to adopt evidence-informed youth justice practices, the YJI created this microsite containing a curated array of national and YJI-developed resources and research relevant to the elimination of R.E.D. in youth justice systems. The site will be continuously updated; to nominate resources for inclusion, please email [email protected].

Solidarity

A Statistical Snapshot of Racial Disparities in the Youth Justice System

5.1x

The Bureau of Justice Statistics has found racial disparities in imprisonment rates. Black individuals are 5.1 times more likely to be imprisoned than white individuals, while Hispanic individuals are 1.5 times more likely to be imprisoned than white individuals. Source: Carson, A. (2020). Prisoners in 2019. Bureau of Justice.

The Black unemployment rate has continued to be over twice the white unemployment rate since data collection began in 1972 according to Federal Reserve Economic Data. Source: Ajilore, O. (2020). On the Persistence of the Black-White Unemployment Gap. Bureau of Justice Statistics.

2.6x

Black students were 2.6 times more likely than white students to be arrested in a school setting, with increased police presence resulting in a disproportionate increase in the arrest of black students as compared with other racial and ethnic groups. Source: Homer, E., & Fisher, B. (2020). Police in schools and student arrest rates across the United States: Examining differences by race, ethnicity, and gender. Journal of School Violence, 19: 1, p. 192-204.

BLACK TRAILBLAZERS IN AMERICAN HISTORY

In honor of Black History Month, we want to highlight the work, contributions, and successes of Black trailblazers in American history. It is because of these amazing individuals that we have moved--and continue to move--closer toward a more equitable world, not only for ourselves but also for our youth.

We encourage you to look into the trailblazers highlighted below and to share these profiles with your colleagues and friends!

The YJI has created a general News Stories Dashboard curating stories from local, national, and international media outlets on diverse youth justice topics and issues. To review stories on Racial and Ethnic Disparities (R.E.D), do the following:

Click on U.S. News.
Click the tag labeled "Racial and Ethnic Disparities" on the left side of the screen.
A list of curated U.S. news having to do with this topic will appear.

Recent News

Black Woman doing accounting work at home desk

Widening racial disparities underlie rise in child deaths in the U.S.

MAY 4th, 2024

THE NEW YORK TIMES

US NATIONAL

"New research finds that the death rate among Black youths soared by 37 percent, and among Native American youths by 22 percent, between 2014 and 2020, compared with less than 5 percent for white youths.”

The child welfare system is hurting the kids it was designed to protect. Why?

MAY 13th, 2024

CHICAGO BUSINESS

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

“Last December, Marc Smith, the longest-serving [Illinois Department of Children & Family Services] DCFS director in more than a decade and the 11th leader in less than eight years, resigned following a scathing report citing extensive problems going back decades. The report found that in 96% of cases where credible evidence of abuse was found, DCFS failed to quickly notify schools.”

Connecticut studying racial disparities in juvenile diversion programs

MAY 16th, 2024

CT MIRROR

CONNECTICUT

“Every weekday at Ansonia High School, a group of about half a dozen students start their days at 5:30 a.m., running and crawling around. They jump rope, lift weights and learn judo and jiujitsu. The district’s school resource officer, Michael Barry, runs the program. Barry said he tries to instill lessons about life along with physical fitness, like persevering through difficulties and hardship.”

Youth Justice Institute

135 Western Ave, Draper Hall, Room 107A
Albany, NY 12222
United States

[email protected]

Phone

518-442-5596

Fax

518-442-5581