Exploration of Social Justice

Juvenile Justice System and Youth of Color Student’s Name Institution Course Number and Name Instructor’s Name Date Juvenile Justice System and Youth of Color A major challenge facing youth of color in America is the juvenile justice system that is characterized by racial discrimination. According to Dragomir and Tadros (2020), there is no nation in the world that incarcerates more children than America. The problem is made worse by the fact the interaction with the system is characterized by racial disparities, with youth of color being overrepresented (McCoy & Pearson., 2019; Dragomir & Tadros, 2020). Although there are programs and policies such as the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) tailored towards reducing the interaction of children with the juvenile system, it is apparent that they are not enough to address the racial disparities that characterize the system. Forms of Oppression in Juvenile Justice The main form of oppression experienced by youth of color in the juvenile justice system is racial inequity. As noted by Washington et al. (2021), the interaction of youth of color with the legal system is characterized multiple biases against them by legal actors such as probation officers, lawyers, judges, and law enforcement officers. Although the youth of color make up 34% of the population, the juvenile justice system charges 62% of them (Dragomir & Tadros, 2020). Compared to White juveniles, Black juveniles are detained five times more, while Hispanic youth are detained two and a half times more. It is important to recognize that juvenile involvement with the justice system has significant unwelcome consequences, such as reduced graduation and employment rates, poorer familial relationships, and higher violence rates (Dragomir & Tadros, 2020). In essence, the racial inequity that oppresses young people of color has long-lasting negative impacts. According to Washington et al. (2021), racial injustice in the juvenile legal system is present in arrest, ability to receive sufficient legal representation, adjudication, and arraignment. Regardless of the crime committed, Latino and Black youth have historically received harsher punishment than White youth (Washington et al., 2021). In essence, facts show that youth of color face significant racial inequities courtesy of the juvenile justice system. The prison-like practices in the American public education system are modeled after the juvenile justice system, meaning that practices such as locker searches, metal detectors, pat downs, and use of security cameras are there to criminalize the young people who are required to undergo them (Washington et al., 2021). Compared to white students, Black students are subjected to more pat-downs and locker searches within the same school (Washington et al., 2021). Therefore, the oppressive nature of the American juvenile system impacts the practices in public schools, with youth of color being on the receiving end. The oppression extends to the mental health of youth of color, with those incarcerated being more likely to have mental illness compared to those who are not Washington et al. (2021). Interestingly, the mental health system underserves people of color, which means that they are more likely to participate in behaviors that raise their likelihood of getting involved with the juvenile justice system (McCoy & Pearson., 2019). In this case, both the mental health system and the juvenile justice system combine to negatively influence the the lives of youth of color. Ethical Problems There are several ethical problems associated with juvenile justice. The first and obvious ethical problem is that the racial disparities inherent in the juvenile justice system are a source of social injustice, with young people of color being the victims. As mentioned before, involvement with the juvenile justice system results in unwelcome life outcomes for y...