Asian American Press, News Report, Posted: Oct 23, 2012

 ST. PAUL (Oct. 17, 2012) — Youth-of-color are disparately represented at all stages of justice-system processing in Minnesota, according to a report from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Justice Programs.

The OJP report compares rates of involvement of youth-of-color at key stages of Minnesota’s juvenile justice system to those of white youth.

In a phenomenon known as Disproportionate Minority Contact, youth-of-color tend to be overrepresented nationally at justice-system decision points focused on accountability, including arrest, secure detention, petition-to-court and transfer to adult court. Conversely, youth of color are underrepresented at diversion from charges and community-based probation.

Specific report findings include:

• Youth of color in Minnesota are more than three times more likely to be arrested for a delinquency offense than white youth.

• Youth of color in Minnesota are more than one-and-a-half times more likely to be securely detained than white youth.

• Youth of color in Minnesota are less likely than white youth to receive a diversion opportunity and are more likely to be charged in juvenile court.

• In Minnesota, youth of color are less likely than white youth to receive probation.

• Youth of color are highly overrepresented among the population certified to stand trial as adults in Minnesota.

Read more here.