NORFOLK
Sometimes it's the little things that can contribute to a disproportionately higher number of black children in the juvenile justice system, experts told some 300 people attending a town hall meeting Saturday.
Bias may be unintentional. Small changes can make a difference. By asking more questions, maybe a grandparent or aunt can be found to supervise a child, when detention would be required otherwise because the single parent must work.
And by probing deeper, authorities can see what kinds of crimes are snaring children - is it murder? contempt of court? - and perhaps do something about it.
"Even if it's not hundreds of kids, every child in detention is a problem," said Clinton Lacey, a staff member of the W. Haywood Burns Institute of San Francisco, which works to reduce racial disparities in juvenile justice. "Your kid in a cage is a problem."
Old Dominion University's Institute for Community Justice and the city of Norfolk sponsored the Saturday morning meeting, held at ODU before a standing-room-only crowd of court officials, lawyers, educators, students and others. It was prompted by statistics showing that four times as many black children as white go into Norfolk's juvenile justice system, while black residents make up less than one-half of the city's population.
Panel members said most studies show that a statistical bias does exist against minority children, as well as those from foster or group homes, when it comes to referring children to the juvenile justice system - even with first-time offenders.
Some of it is based on stereotypes. But sometimes it's how the system is set up, said Shay Bilchik, founder and director of the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform at Georgetown University. Poor parents are less able to leave work and pick up children immediately when summoned, so the children might be detained.
Location also can make a difference, he said: Misbehavior at an urban school staffed with police officers might lead to an arrest, while a suburban school might be more likely to handle it in-house with a suspension.
Important, Bilchik said, is recognizing the potential for bias at every "decision point" in the system, from initial referral to detention before trial to punishment. He and others said data should be analyzed and shared with other justice, child-welfare and other agencies, and used instead of "gut feelings" to establish policies.
More objective assessment tools, such as forms, also could help, said Shauna Epps, of the Center for Children's Law and Policy in Washington.
"So you don't look at someone, the color of their skin, the way they wear their clothes, how they respond to you" when deciding what to do with them, she said.
Norfolk has a committee that meets monthly on the issue, with help from the Haywood Burns Institute. The city has used data to reduce the number and length of juvenile detentions, Lacey said. But others must get involved, he said.
"If we say the system is being overused," he said, "... the question is: 'Who's going to be in the community for them?' "
Bilchik said that too often society counts on the "resilience of our youth" to weather the institutional odds stacked against them.
"We need to be accountable for the basics for our young people," he said. "We need to make sure that we are reaching out to every one of them, grabbing them by the hand, and lifting them to a better and safer life."
Afterward, two ODU students said they came away with the importance of giving young people positive direction.
"Being able to have a college education, I always felt it is our responsibility to promote that to other minorities," said LaKeith Sutton, a sophomore from Washington who's black. "I think people underestimate how important a mentor is."
Overrepresentation of minorities in the justice system is "everybody's issue," said Chantal Matthews, a junior from Portsmouth who also is black. "It's not just a black issue or whatever. It's everybody's issue. It's a societal problem."
Matthew Bowers, (757) 222-3893, matthew.bowers@pilotonline.com
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Wow, African Americans are
Wow, African Americans are disproportionately poor as well. You think there is any relationship between poverty and crime? Nah . . the very idea is ridiculous. Besides, even if there were, they are poor on purpose. I'm glad not one of the umpteen other commentors before me even brought that up. Too bad "political correctness" keeps those umpteen other commentors from saying what they really think. Too bad the pilot's censors don't let their posts through.
Sticking your head in the sand on either side of the fence is not going to solve problem. If you think everybody isn't impacted by crime I envy your comfortable life on that deserted island you live on. If you think pointing fingers is going to work, keep doing what you are doing.
Previous words in last comment edited
The first line the word - Wel-fare was edited out
Non-accountability
We all know the truth. The problem is far too many are so far left leaning PC to state it. The numbers represent those getting into trouble. Many are revolving door perps. It isn't about race, creed, or religion. It's about accountability. There are a LOT of sorry parents out there from all walks of life. That is where the majority of these troubled kids come from. It's about a sub-culture and majority of a certain ethnic group that not only condones this behavior but may actually celebrate it as 'Diversity'. I just pulled my child out of Churchland Middle School because of the 'thug' culture that prevails there. The administration has no power over these kids. Many parents do nothing to raise their kids to be respectful and wanting to be educated. Many others, unlike myself, have their hands tied and can't afford to relocate or place their kids in a private school. If 4 out of 5 kids in court are black then it's because 4 black kids to every 1 white kid are getting into trouble. It's really simple.
Bingo
BCAT GRAHAM Well stated,though I suspect many won't 'get it'.
I'm confused . . .
This group of "majority/white parents" who supposedly have all the time in the world to supervise their kids, where are they? Seems like everyone works all the time right now (if they have a job!).
Also, is the article comparing "in-school detention" to "out-of-school suspension" and saying that suspension is better, if a parent can be found to supervise it? Why is it better to be kicked out of school than to have to pay the penalty for one's actions on the school grounds???
Then, why is it regarded as "bias" to take into account the way a child/teen responds to you as an authority figure? I would say a respectful response means a lot, esp if the alternative is ignoring me, spitting at me, or swearing at me. And, no, I don't think those negative things are cultural to any race nor are they instinctive to any child meeting a member of another race!!!!!
People are getting tired of these "Im a victim" stories
We see a pattern here over whites and blacks treatment in schools,and now the juvenile courts. Someone hit it on the head here when they said they the government should be looking into the family and home life of these students. Why is it all ways the police,courts and government fault? They blame it on schools, black students are failing and dropping out of school have to be someone's fault. Why is it that more Asians and white students can pass to the next grade or graduate high school than blacks? They get the same teachers, they get the same test and exams so what is the problem? I think everyone is getting tired of the "Victim attitude" So if it's an almost black school and blacks still fail or get into trouble more than whites who's fault would it be this time?
Schools oficials, state and local government knows who should get the blame but we live in a PC world. I would love someone spend a little time and do a real research on this issue.
Easily
That is easily the stupidest article I've read in a long time. It's just staggering how people have wound themself up so tight in politically correct fallacies.
you go rickyd24750
rickyd24750, you are so right. There is no ridiculous "racial gap" - such buzzwords are used to goad some and rally others. Juvenile thugs commit crimes; speaking the truth about why more are black will get you censored real fast, and could even result in your character being attacked, or your career being destroyed. The race issue has been pushed too far, like the boy who cried wolf, most of my friends simply don't listen or care anymore.
Could it be..........
Blacks commit more crimes? Of course it is! So why is this? Let's start with half the parental involvement than other groups. So why is Dad gone? Perhaps the Welfare State pretty much discourages any adult male in the family. Heck, when you apply for WIC you're told that you cannot allow any adult male to eat any of the food!
Combine the above with a sense of entitlement and poverty and you get criminals. Oh, 'Rap', 'Hip Hop' and 'Gangsta' culture has influence too.
So the government is mostly responsible but the rest is up to us by NOT glorifying single motherhood, block the Gangter crap on TV and Internet and encourage personal responsibility.
So in order to do this you must first crush the crack pipe, pour the 40 Oz. Malt Liquor down the drain and close you legs.
Detention in public school is a joke
I seriously doubt any of the people in that conference have been in a public school lately. I have had my children in both public and private schools. In public schools,detention is held in an unsupervised classroom where the kids sit on tops of desks and chew candy and socialize. In private school,my child had to sit in a desk with her hands folded,feet flat on the floor,eyes focused straight ahead.There was a teacher there the entire time warning the children if they moved,their time would be extended. Needless to say,a child was a fool who misbehaved again after an afternoon of having to sit like that for an hour.
Whites picked out again!
No comparison to Asians, Hispanics or any other group. Perhaps it is because all these groups plus whites take some interest and responsibility in raising their children.
Raising children in a single parent environment is difficult. Raising multiple children and in some cases from multiple fathers is poor judgement, stupid and a lack of responsibility on the part of a procreator.
Personal Accountability
Let's assume that white juveniles are not being held to the same standard as African-American juvenile. It would seem that if the City of Norfolk wants to protect the health, safety and welfare of all of its citizens that all juvenile offenders should be held to the same standard. That having been said, how embarrassing is it that the city is trying to pass a covert message to the justice community to find ways to avoid prosecuting African-American juveniles, rather than developing a way to ensuring that white juveniles are held to the same standard. Also, the political affiliations of the organizers of this meeting have been made manifest. The mere fact that a San Francisco group would come to your city to try and solve any problem is in and of itself a paradox. San Francisco lawyers have made that city one in which homeless relief themselves on the street, unqualified police officer fail to enforce laws and every group seeking protection for their selfish interests seeks harbor. If the Hampton Roads legal community values such opinions with standing room only crowds, I hope it was an angry mob, showing up to challenge lunacy, rather the bleeding heart crowd that is in fa
Simple answer
If they don't do the crime, then they won't do the time. Why does it take a bunch of meetings to realize that? The gangster culture, irresponsible sex activity, droopy drawers, tattoos covering their bodies, crazy hair styles, no respect for others, refusal to take advantage of educational opportunities are all indicators of the problem.
It will just get worse unless the black community cleans up it's own.
I do NOT BELIEVE the Statistics.
When is the last time you have been in a Norfolk Public School?
I have a child in Middle School and one in High School.
These "statistics" ARE NOT ACCURATE! Look at a year book. COUNT the number of students. Divide the ratio. This is NOT rocket science.
Someone is NOT filling out the census. Go to Booker T. Go To Norview. Go to Maury. Go to Granby. The census is wrong.
HOWEVER, that being said, Family structure is the breakdown. "people" know they can get more money out of government being a "single parent" come tax time. They can get allowences from Utilities being a single parent with low-mod income. WHY get married?? Not married... things get tough ... Roll Out. Abondon your family. Lack of Values is THE PROBLEM. Glorified Gangstas IS THE PROBLEM. Look at "crack dealing Notorious Big".
racial gap in juvenile justice
You've got to be kidding me....Let me get this right "We need to be accountable for the basics for our young people".....how about the parents being accountable for the children they choose to bring into this world(or as stated in the article, the single parent who cannot get away to be accountable due to work, get a stat on that, how many actually work).
We continue to refer to "mentor's", never heard that word till 10 years ago when it was determined that a certain part of society children grew up without fathers more than others? (another stat)
"Being able to have a college education, I always felt it is our responsibility to promote that to other minorities" ....that is done already through the FAFSA program. (another stat)
Could it be...that the reason for the 4-1 ratio....is due to the fact that they are the ones doing the crime.....I agree with one thing here and that it is society is at fault for one reason....for being an "enabler" by not holding the parents accountable. (another stat)
Look at the real stats here, how many of these children come from a "stable" family....and there lies the issue...and to say "Overrepresentation of minorities in the justice system is e
I left my pants in San Francisco
"every child in detention is a problem," said Clinton Lacey, a staff member of the W. Haywood Burns Institute of San Francisco, which works to reduce racial disparities in juvenile justice. "Your kid in a cage is a problem.""
-your kid's in a cage because he's a problem.
By all means, import a Looney Toons from San Francisco to foment white guilt.
Yeah
It's those "little" things....like two parents, educational priorities, manners, civilized behavior, respect, character, accountabilty...Yep, I agree it's those "little" things. Did I leave any other "little" things out?
Or maybe another 2 or 3 trillion dollars more in social programs would have done it. You know, I think that may be the answer; "when white will finally do right". Now that we solved that problem, what's the next one?
Hmmmm
MAYBE it's because a certain segment of the population is COMMITTING more crimes.
If it wasnt "COOL" to be arrested, and the punishment was scary, then MAYBE we wouldnt have this problem.
Let's look at reality. Did you backtalk your father when growing up? Of course not, if you did, you would get your head backhanded off your shoulders. It was a punishment that was feared, so we didnt do the crime. NOW we don't do it, because we know it's the wrong thing to do, not because we are afraid of the backhand.
MAYBE the same thing needs to happen with our judicial system.
The truth be told --
One more time the issue has become race. Go into any court and you will see that the defendants are predominantly black, by about four to one. Traffic court, criminal court, juvenile court, it doesn't matter.
Call me insensitive, but when a majority of the crime is being done by a minority percentage of the black population I would say we have a social issue that needs to be addressed by the black community. Pull the crime reports and they will give proof positive that the facts are what they are. If you have some little gang-banger running wild giving him to Grandma to supervise rather than place him in custody makes sense how? Thats laughable! I'd be willing to bet dollars to doughnuts that eighty percent of the people looking at this issue are black too.
"Misbehavior at an urban
"Misbehavior at an urban school staffed with police officers might lead to an arrest, while a suburban school might be more likely to handle it in-house with a suspension."
Well duh,maybe it is because the parent of the misbehaving child from the urban school is in jail themselves and isn't available for a parent/teacher conference !!!
Blacks can't blame whites for this kind of nonsense anymore. After all,they have a shining example of a BLACK kid raised by a DIVORCED mother in the White House now.