Report Finds Disparities in Treatment of Latino, Latina Youth in Justice System; System Lacks Adequate Data, Bi-Lingual Services

7/10/2002

From: Adam Eidinger, 202-232-8997 (English) Rosa M. Grillo, 202-829-7840 (Spanish) both for Building Blocks for Youth http://www.buildingblocksforyouth.org

News Advisory:

-- New Report Exposes Disparities in Treatment of Latino and Latina Youth in Justice System -- System Plagued by Inadequate Data, Absence of Bi-Lingual Services

Latino and Latina youth receive disparate and more punitive treatment than their White peers charged with the same types of offenses, according to a new report commissioned by the Building Blocks for Youth initiative. Available data actually under-count disparities because most states and the federal government fail to identify Latino youth in data collection, usually counting them as White.

WHO:

-- Nancy E. Walker, report co-author and Professor at Michigan State University

-- Francisco A. Villarruel, report co-author and Professor at Michigan State University

-- Chino Hardin, formerly incarcerated youth and spokesperson of Prison Moratorium Project

-- Angela Arboleda, National Council of La Raza (NCLR)

-- Marisa Demeo, Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund (MALDEF)

-- Mai Fernandez, Latin American Youth Center

-- Mark Soler, president of the Youth Law Center

-- Brent Wilkes, executive director of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)

WHAT: Press Conference on Disparities of Latino and Latina Youth in Criminal Justice System

Followed by Telephone Conference Call for out of town media

WHEN: Thursday, July 18, at 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Telephone Conference Call begins at 12:20 p.m. EDT

WHERE: National Press Club, Lisagor Room, 529 14th St, NW Washington, D.C. Conference call participants dial 202-744-2671 for toll-free call in number

Latino and Latina youth are more likely to be incarcerated than White youth charged with the same types of offenses. For youth charged with drug offenses, the incarceration rate for Latino youth was 13 times the rate for White youth. Latino youth charged with violent offenses were five times as likely to be incarcerated as White youth similarly charged. According to Human Rights Watch research, Latino youth are incarcerated at higher rates than Whites in 46 of the 50 states.

The report, "Donde Esta la Justicia? A Call to Action on Behalf of Latino and Latina Youth in the U.S. Justice System," was commissioned by the Building Blocks for Youth initiative, a national campaign to promote a fair and effective youth justice system and was prepared by the Institute for Children, Youth and Families at Michigan State University, in consultation with a number of national and grassroots Latino groups.

Reporters may view an embargoed copy of the report's executive summary by contacting Adam Eidinger at 202-232-8997 or Rosa M. Grillo at 202-829-7840. Spanish speakers will be featured at the press conference.