Abstract: Minority
youths in Anchorage are referred to the Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice
(DJJ) for delinquent behavior at rates much higher than white youths. This
report, presenting the first findings from an extended examination of extended
examination of race, ethnicity, and juvenile justice in Anchorage, provides
a broad overview of the level of disproportionate minority contact in the
Alaska juvenile justice system and examines whether disproportionate minority
contact occurs (1) for all minority youth, (2) for both males and females,
(3) for both youth referred for new crimes and youth referred for conduct
or probation violations, and (4) throughout the Municipality of Anchorage
or in specific geographical areas within the Municipality of Anchorage.
By developing a detailed understanding of the scope of disproportionate
minority contact, we become much better prepared to identify its causes
and to develop promising evidence-based solutions. The sample in this analysis
includes 1,936 youths who resided in Anchorage and were referred to DJJ
in Anchorage during fiscal year 2005 for new crimes, probation violations,
or conduct violations.
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