NEWS RELEASE
EMBARGO UNTIL 12:00 NOON, EDT, TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 2000
STATEMENT OF
CONGRESSMAN BOBBY SCOTT
(D-VA, 3RD DISTRICT)
HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS
WASHINGTON, DC
APRIL 25, 2000
REP. SCOTT COMMENDS BUILDING BLOCKS FOR YOUTH
WASHINGTON, DC -Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA-3) commends
Building Blocks for Youth for their most recent report, And Justice for
Some: Differential Treatment of Minority Youth in the Justice System.
This report indicates that minority children, especially
African-American youth are overrepresented in the nation's juvenile
justice system. It is the second of five reports to be published this
year in a multi-year initiative to promote rational and effective
juvenile justice policies.
"This report confirms what we have known for some time," remarked
Congressman Scott, "minority youth are disproportionately represented in
the juvenile justice system." The findings within And Justice for
Some: Differential Treatment of Minority Youth in the Justice System,
indicate African-American youth are more likely than White youth to be
formally charged in juvenile court, even when referred for the same type
of crime. The report also indicates that in 1997, 7,400 new admissions
to adult prisons involved youth under the age of 18. Three out of four
of these youth were minorities.
"The absence of justice for minority youth in the juvenile justice
system occurs not only in confinement but as early as the decision to
make initial arrest and it continues through the sentencing process.
This report gives further support for maintaining current laws which
require that states simply look into the issue of disproportionate
confinement of minority youth in the juvenile justice system, " Scott
stated.
The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act requires that states
address disproportionate confinement of minority youth in four ways.
Current law directs states to identify the extent to which
disproportionate minority confinement exists in their states, to assess
the reason that it exists, and to develop intervention strategies to
address the causes for disproportionate minority confinement. Several
communities have responded to this requirement by establishing training
programs for law enforcement and redesigning intake procedures for
juvenile offenders. Currently all states are in compliance with this
core requirement in the Act. The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention Act is currently under review by Congress. One version of
the proposed reauthorization eliminates the provision which requires
states to address disproportionate minority confinement.
