Racial Patterns In Deliquency

According to the UCR in 2003 African American youths are arrested for disproportionate number of murders, rapes, robberies, and assaults. African American youths are more likely to be formally arrested by the police, whereas the police will treat white youths informally. African American youths who have a police record are more likely to be severely punished if they are picked up and sent back to juvenile courts. Police are not the only authorities who may contribute to racial differences in the delinquency rate. Juvenile court judges may see the offenses committed by African American youths as more serious than those committed by white offenders.

If one considers the disproportionate number of who are arrested is not due to their involvement but, the result of race-based decision making in the juvenile justice system. Institutional racism by the police and courts is an element of daily life the African American community especially juveniles.

The racial differences are in the rate of the offense, rather than bias and discrimination by agents of the justice system, which may help to explain the persistent racial disparities found in the justice system. For example, racial differences in the crime rate are tied to social and economic inequality. African Americans have suffered through a long history of discrimination that have lasting affects. In addition, low employment rates among minorities place a strain on families. Divorce and separation rates are significantly associated with crime and violence rates in the African American community.

During economic growth, lower-class African Americans are left out of the economic mainstream that may generate a sense of failure and frustration. Being shut out of the educational and economic opportunities one may be exposed to the lure of dishonest gain and criminality. In addition, African Americans receive longer sentences than whites who commit the same type of crimes especially when their unemployed or impoverished. Is it possible that judges may view unemployed or poor African Americans as more dangerous and likely to recidivate then white offenders?

One may consider the differences in the delinquency rates are bias in the justice system whereas, Police are more likely to arrest and courts are more likely to convict African American youths. I believe the differences in the rates are due to the participation of African American youths in serious criminal behavior is a result of their socioeconomic position and the racism they face.

Links Of Interest:

1. Criminal Justice System Unfair to Black Youth

http://www.chicagodefender.com/article-2037-report-criminal-justice-system-unfair-to-black-youth.html

2. Racial Disparities In Local Criminal Justice System

http://www.communityalternatives.org/articles/racial_disparities.html

3. National Council On Crime And Delinquency

http://www.nccd-crc.org/nccd/pubs/2007jan_justice_for_some.pdf

4. Unequal Opportunities For Juvenile Justice

http://www.aecf.org/upload/PublicationFiles/fact_sheet12.pdf