The Connecticut Mirror

Does race matter in the juvenile justice system?
May 4, 2012
by Jacqueline Rabe Thomas

When a child is referred to a Connecticut court, the state’s juvenile justice system is largely colorblind.
New state data from 2011 show that whether a youth is black, white or Latino, he has about a 50 percent chance of having his case dismissed. Similarly, about 30 percent of all youths — regardless of skin color or ethnicity — receive probation after they are arrested. But skin color and ethnicity are powerful indicators of which children will be arrested in the first place. In fact, when students are arrested on school property, one of every two will be black or Hispanic.
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Nationwide and in Connecticut, juvenile arrests have declined steadily over the last several years, but arrests for less serious incidents — including drug possession and minor assaults — have increased substantially, reports the City University of New York’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
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Read the full article in The Connecticut Mirror

Mental Health, Substance Abuse & Brain Development in Juvenile Offenders

Butts, Jeffrey A. (2012). Mental Health, Substance Abuse & Brain Development in Juvenile Offenders. Introductory remarks for a panel discussion at the Tow Foundation symposium: “Kids Behind Bars.” John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Center on Media, Crime and Justice. New York, NY. April 23, 2012.

Mental Health and Drug Disorders Less Common at Early Stages of Juvenile Justice

Butts, Jeffrey A. (2012). Mental Health and Drug Disorders Less Common at Early Stages of Juvenile Justice. Research and Evaluation Data Bits [2012-07]. New York, NY: Research and Evaluation Center, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York.

Youth in the juvenile justice system are at higher risk for mental health disorders and substance abuse problems, but these differences in risk are often misunderstood.