Book Description

The United States Senate's Subcommittee on Juvenile Justice heard testimony on minority overrepresentation in the juvenile justice system and the sentencing of minorities within that system. In particular, the Subcommittee heard testimony from eight witnesses who suggested short- and long-term approaches for helping to eliminate racial bias in the juvenile justice system, as well as the need for more family and community services. Before the witnesses testified, Senator J. R. Biden, Jr., addressed the subcommittee on the pressing nature of the issues. The following witnesses appeared in two panels: (1) T. Cavalier, an apprentice at Youth Development, Inc. (Albuquerque, New Mexico); (2) R. Chavez, the Assistant Executive Director of Youth Development, Inc. (Albuquerque, New Mexico); (3) I. Fulwood, Jr., Chief of Police in Washington (District of Columbia); (4) C. Hunter, a graduate of Kenosha County (Wisconsin) Community-Based Services Program; (5) D. Ramirez, a judge in Denver (Colorado); (6) L. LeFlore of the Institute of Juvenile Justice Administration and Delinquency Prevention (Hattiesburg, Mississippi); (7) C. Williams of the Center for the Study of Social Policy (Washington, District of Columbia); and (8) C. O'Donnell of the Center for Youth Research, University of Hawaii (Honolulu, Hawaii). The witnesses described their personal experiences either as minority individuals in the juvenile justice system or as workers within the system and made suggestions for change and correction. (JB)