Lest we forget thee …: The under- and over-representation of Black and Latino youth in California higher education and juvenile justice institutions

Youth of color are dramatically under-represented in California institutions of higher education. Conversely in California and nationwide, African American and Latino youth are disproportionately over-represented at every major decision point in the juvenile justice system [Leiber, M. (2002). Disproportionate Minority Confinement (DMC) of youth: An analysis of state and federal efforts to address the issue. Crime and Delinquency, 48(1), 3-45]. We offer a conceptual framework seeking a deeper understanding of the connections between youth socialization and two major social control institutions in America: the juvenile justice system and the educational system. We suggest that in order to understand fully the interconnections between the under-representation of African Americans in higher education and their over-representation in the juvenile justice system, a broader exploration of the common macro- and micro-structural factors shared by these institutions is required. We argue that race-ethnic inequities result from discriminatory state policies, institutional practices and gatekeeper decision-making. This paper suggests that without key reforms, which financially reprioritize education, rehabilitation, and youth in general, the distorted representation of youth of color in public institutions will persist. The conclusion offers several measures that if implemented will help achieve realistic change within institutions of higher education and criminal justice.

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