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Fact Sheet: Latino
and Latina Youth in the Justice System
“¿DÓNDE ESTÁ LA JUSTICIA?” a
comprehensive new report reveals that Latino and Latina youth are
over-represented in the U.S. justice system, and receive harsher
treatment than White youth for the same types of offenses, while the
lack of adequate data nationwide masks the severity of the problem.
Key Findings:
- Latino and Latina youth are
significantly over-represented in the U.S. justice system and
receive harsher treatment than White youth, even when charged with
the same types of offenses;
- Current means for collecting and
accessing data are inadequate, resulting in under-counting and
inaccuracies in reporting disproportionate representation and
disparate treatment of Latino and Latina youth in the U.S. justice
system;
- The system fails to provide adequate
bilingual services to Latino and Latina youth;
- The system fails to ensure cultural
competency of staff working with Latino and Latina youth;
- Consideration of the immigration
status of Latino and Latina youth results in incarceration,
deportation, and permanent separation from families;
- Anti-gang laws result in harsh and
unfair consequences for Latino and Latina youth.
Major Recommendations:
Public officials, policy makers, and
the justice system should:
- Eliminate racial profiling and
policies based on racial or ethnic stereotypes;
- Collect data in a way that
accurately counts Latino and Latina youth by separating them from
White, African-American, and other youth;
- Employ bilingual and culturally
competent staff to ensure better services to the Latino community;
- Reduce subjective or biased
decision making by creating objective risk assessment instruments.
Latino communities, youth and
families should:
- Get organized at a local level to
pressure the justice system to be accountable to Latino
communities and youth;
- Call for the active inclusion of
youth voices in policy development and implementation;
- Form Latino advisory groups to
guide policy making and implementation in the law enforcement and
justice systems.
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