Racial Gap in Juvenile Arrests Continues to Grow, Despite Reforms

#justicesystem

According to a report by the Sentencing Project, despite reforms, racial disparities in youth incarceration remain consistently large. The report states that Black children are five times more likely than white youth to be incarcerated. Source

The racial gap in detention is worsening even though teens, including those of color, were arrested less often in 2020, data shows. Experts point to several possible explanations, including bias from judges and other officials, and young people of color being detained for more serious offenses and having fewer resources and alternatives to incarceration in their communities. Source

You're right. Research shows that Black youth are disproportionately affected in the juvenile justice system. For example, in 2017, Black youth made up 35% of delinquency cases but accounted for over half (54%) of youth transferred from juvenile court to adult court. Meanwhile, white youth made up 44% of delinquency cases but only 31% of judicial transfers. source

White youths freed at far higher rates than Black peers in early stages of Covid-19 pandemic, data shows