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The Racial Disparities and Incarceration of Juvenile Delinquents

In: Social Issues

Submitted By poet1051
Words 4826
Pages 20
The Racial Disparities and Incarceration of Juvenile Delinquents
Mario M. Tate
University of Memphis

Abstract
The criminal justice system has had to enact harsher treatment due to the erratic and unpredictable nature of juvenile delinquents who refuse to follow the law. The age ranges for juveniles that are being considered in this study are 12-18 years old. I want to address the ever growing problems of racial disparity and incarceration of juvenile delinquents, who tend to not have any other options, but being arrested and are preyed upon because of their racial make-up. Single parent households, lack of education, supervision, and economics are some of the contributing factors which have lead many juveniles down the road to their deviant behavior. Data has been collected to try and understand the reasons for the defiant behavior of juveniles, so advocates may assist them in remaining with their families; through constant monitoring and evaluations of behavior and actions of our children they may stand a significant chance of growing up to be prosperous and productive adults. Also increased funding through the Juvenile Justice Prevention Act will help local state and county municipalities’ kick-start programs to assist today’s youth.
Keywords: juvenile delinquents, incarceration, racial disparity, juvenile justice, racial discrimination, jail, juvenile courts

The history of juvenile delinquency and racial disparity has gone hand in hand for a very long time and appears to have no end in sight. The first thing that needs amending is the mind set of people that feel one race of people is better than another. We all are on an equal playing field, and if people would look at life objectively and fairly these types of problems would not exist and certain races would not be made to feel inferior to others because of the color of the skin.
McCord, et al.

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