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The Jury Is out on
Virginia's Juvenile Justice System

"Black kids are treated entirely differently from their white counterparts."
- Juvenile Court Judge, September 2002

"Across disciplines, there [is] an overarching sentiment and perception that children and youth of color are disparately treated [in the Virginia system]: that race matters."
- ABA Juvenile Justice Center Report on Virginia, September 2002

THE FACTS on VIRGINIA

Flaws in System Affect Youth of Color More Harshly

  • A recent ABA report found that "late appointment of counsel, lack of resources, and multiple systemic barriers disproportionately affected children and youth of color."

    Youth of Color are More Often Locked Up in Juvenile Facilities

  • Of the youth population in residential placement in Virginia on October 29, 1997: 10% were White, 51% were African-American, 18% were Hispanic, 12% were Native American, and 9% were Asian.

    Youth of Color are More Likely to Be Sent to Adult Prisons

  • African-American youth comprised 77% of admissions to adult prisons in comparison to making up 23% of the youth population in Virginia (1996).
  • White youth comprised 21% of admissions to adult prisons, in comparison to making up 67% of the youth population in Virginia (1996).

Sources: Virginia: An Assessment of Access to Counsel and Quality of Representation in Delinquency Proceedings. ABA Juvenile Justice Center (September 2002). Juvenile Offenders and Victims: 1999 National Report. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (1999). And Justice for Some. National Council on Crime and Delinquency and Building Blocks for Youth (2000).

What You Can Do

(1) Spread the word about the issue in your communities.

(2) Get involved with the Virginia Juvenile Justice Coalition:

Andy Block, Director
Just Children Project
617 West Main Street, 3rd Floor
Charlottesville, VA 22903
Phone: 804/977-0553
Email: andy@justice4all.org

(3) Urge state legislators to ensure youth of color have access to counsel and are not treated unfairly.



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