Justice Center

Research > Disproportionate Processing of Alaska Native Youth

Disproportionate Processing of Alaska Native Youth

 Principal investigator(s): 

N.E. Schafer
Other project personnel:  Cassie Atwell
Richard Curtis

Project dates: 

Apr 1, 1996 - Jun 30, 1997

 JC#: 

9501.02

 Agency: 

Through a gift from Cook Inlet Region, Inc.
to the UA Fund

 Project amount: 

$22,642

 Project status: 

Completed
 

See also:    
> Alaska Native youth in the justice system
> Minorities in the Alaska juvenile justice system
 
Detention data processed by the Justice Center reveals that disproportionate numbers of Alaska Native youth are detained in Alaska. Preliminary reports by the Division of Family and Youth Services indicate that Native youth may be disproportionately adjudicated and institutionalized as well. The project was based on detention collected during annual juvenile jail monitoring activities; additional data was collected from case files.
     This project studied race disparities in the Alaska juvenile justice system in an attempt to determine what the differentials are, where (in the system) they occur and what social or legal factors can be associated with the disproportionate representation of Alaska Native youth in Alaska's juvenile system.
     The project included a review of the literature, with particular attention to Native Americans as a minority and literature related to Alaska specifically; collection and reanalysis of relevant data bases; and a thorough review and comparison of the referral histories of a Native youth population randomly selected from the data bases with a matched sample of white youth. Matches were made on age, gender, and type of offense.

Products

Schafer, N. E.; Curtis, Richard W.; and Atwell, Cassie. (1997). Disproportionate Representation of Minorities in the Alaska Juvenile Justice System: Phase I Report. Anchorage, AK: Justice Center, University of Alaska Anchorage.

Schafer, N. E. (1998). A Comparison by Race of Juvenile Referrals in Alaska: Phase II Report. Anchorage, AK: Justice Center, University of Alaska Anchorage.

Articles

Schafer, N. E. and Curtis, Richard W. (Fall 1997). "Minorities Referred at Higher Rates: Analysis of DFYS Data." Alaska Justice Forum 14(3): 2-4.

Schafer, N. E. (Spring 1998). "Juvenile Referrals: An in-Depth Look." Alaska Justice Forum 15(1): 2-5.

Press releases

Justice Center, University of Alaska Anchorage. (25 Jun 1997). "Disproportionate Referrals of Alaska Native and African American Youth" (press release). Release of the Justice Center report Disproportionate Representation of Minorities in the Alaska Juvenile Justice System.

Justice Center, University of Alaska Anchorage. (8 Jun 1998). "Juvenile Referrals in Alaska Examined by Race" (press release). Release of the Justice Center report A Comparison by Race of Juvenile Referrals in Alaska: Phase II Report.

Conference papers

Schafer, N. E.; Curtis, Richard W.; and Atwell, Cassie. (Oct 1997). "A Preliminary Examination of Minority Referrals to the Alaska Juvenile Justice System." Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Midwestern Criminal Justice Association, Cincinnati.

Schafer, N. E. (Mar 1998). "A Comparison by Race of Juvenile Referrals in Alaska." Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, Albuquerque.

Schafer, N. E. (Nov 1998). "Disproportionate Minority Processing of Females: A Comparison of Native, Black and White Females." Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology, Washington, DC.


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