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Juvenile Injustice Facts |
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Intro
Everyday mainstream media paints an exaggerated picture of youth
crime in the US. This serves to perpetuate perceptions of young
people as alien within society, particularly youth of color.
Following are facts that support an alternative view of youth
crime- one that is complete, holistic, and focused on
truth-telling.
Facts
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Only
6 countries known to have executed juvenile offenders in the last
15 years: the United States, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen,
and Nigeria.
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From 1992
through 1997, forty-four states and the District of Columbia
passed laws making it easier for juveniles to be tried as adults.
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In 1995,
African American youths made up 12% of the national prison
population; they were arrested at rates double those for Caucasian
youths.
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Since
California’s 3-strikes law went into effect, African Americans
have been incarcerated at rates 12x higher and Latinos 45% higher
than the third strike incarceration rate for Caucasians.
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In Alabama,
a 13-year old girl was detained for 5 weeks in a juvenile jail for
possession of what was believed to be marijuana but turned out to
be oregano.
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Juvenile
(ages 10-17) homicide arrest rates are down 46% per 100,000 youths
ages 10-17 in the last generation, 2000 compared to 1970s.
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Number of
students murdered at school in the last three years in the “school
shootings” featured in headlines and repeated news stories in the
1990s: 25. Number who were white: 23. Number of students
murdered at school in the same period who received virtually no
media or political attention: 32. Number who were not white: 29.
For resources on young people
organizing to fight Juvenile Injustice,
click here>
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