Demonstrating awareness of the value of diversity and equity in the administration of justice begins with understanding the needs, values, and backgrounds of justice-involved individuals before developing suitable solutions or interventions. In this final week, you will consider juvenile justice and factors that may impede fair and equitable treatment of juveniles of ethnically diverse backgrounds.
Select an issue related to race and ethnicity in juvenile justice. Review Ch. 9, “Juvenile Justice” of Race and Crime. Examples include:
Disproportionate minority contact (DMC)
School-to-prison pipeline
Minority female delinquency
Life without parole sentencing
Write a 700- to 1,050-word blog post in which you examine the role of policies and procedures in maintaining equity in the juvenile justice system.
Audience: You are a criminal justice professional who has been asked to write a blog post about contemporary issues in juvenile justice.
In your blog post, be sure to:
Summarize the issue. Include relevant details or examples to support your summary.
Describe the negative impact on juveniles of diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds.
Summarize a policy or procedure associated with the issue. How is it designed to address the issue?
Evaluate whether the policy/procedure supports or maintains equity in the juvenile justice system. Does the policy/procedure work as intended? Is it effective?
If yes, explain why or how the policy addresses the issue.
If no, explain the changes you would recommend.