We all want our children to stay out of legal trouble. We all want our children to avoid being in “the system”. However, for some of us, that is not a reality. But, even when it does happen, shouldn’t we expect the law to apply evenly, regardless of color?

To those who view the world like me, this may be naive. To others, the assumption is made that all treatment is equal and Black/Latino kids just commit more crime, thus resulting in more of them being locked up. However, if one looks at the numbers, the bias becomes apparent.

National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD) has issued a report that points out some stark contrasts in treatment that Black/Latino versus their white counterparts, in regards to the criminal justice system.

Among the finding from the NCCD report:

• African-American youths are 4.5 times more likely, and Latinos 2.3 times more likely, than white youths to be detained for identical offenses.

• About half of white teenagers arrested on a drug charge go home without being formally charged and drawn into the system. Only a quarter of black teens arrested on drug charges catch a similar break.

• When charges are filed, white youths are more likely to be placed on probation while black youth are more likely to get locked up.

Unequal treatment didn’t stop upon entry into the juvenile justice system. NCCD researchers found that African-American youths are more likely than whites to be charged, tried, and incarcerated as adults. African Americans comprise 58 percent of youths charged and convicted as adults and sent to adult prisons.

Perhaps Lady Justice does wear a blindfold but, when it comes to Black & Latino youth, she’s peeking out of it on a pretty regular basis.

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