Juvenile Justice

WHEREAS, African-American and minority youth (10-17 years old) are over-represented in the Juvenile Justice System and the Criminal Justice System; and

WHEREAS, African-American and minority youth are detained and held as juveniles, arrested and jailed as adults, adjudicated as juvenile delinquents, waived into criminal courts and tried as adults, incarcerated in Juvenile Detention Facilities and imprisoned with adults in prisons at a far higher rates than white youth.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP re-affirms its 2000 Resolution "Establishing State Governors Special Commissions to Study Disproportionate Minority Representation in States' Correctional and Juvenile Justice Systems;" and

NOW, BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that all NAACP units in this Nation shall vigorously fight for the elimination of state and local laws, policies and practices which are responsible for the over-representation of African-American and minority youth at all levels of the juvenile and criminal justice systems.