Jorge Rivas

Latino Youth Disproportionately Sent to Adult Prisons

via New America Media and Notimex - Diario La Estrella

One in four Latino youths convicted of a crime is sent to an adult prison, according to a study by the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) and the Campaign for Youth Justice (CFYJ).

The report, “America’s Invisible Children: Latino Youth and the Failure of Justice,” found that young Latinos receiving harsher treatment than their white counterparts for the same offenses and are more likely to be placed in adult prisons. Each year about 200,000 young people under 18 are tried as adults in courts across the country, many of them Latinos. As a result, thousands of Latino youth are deprived of opportunities for rehabilitation, including education and mental health services. The report also revealed that Latino youth sent to adult prisons face increased risks of suicide and sexual assault.

According to the analysis, about 18,000 young Latinos are currently incarcerated, the majority for nonviolent offenses.

To download the report visit NCLR’s website.

Posted at 9:31 AM, May 22, 2009 in Child Welfare | Prisons | Permalink | View Comments