This report was published by For Youth Initiative.

HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS REPORT:

The focus of this report is to summarize, analyze, explain, and evaluate the statements made by panelists at ‘œYOUTH SPEAK!’ (2010) concerning their experiences with the criminal justice system, and to compile those statements into understandable themes. This report compiles and expands upon a total of five themes, all centered around issues in the justice system.

The following themes have been highlighted by at-risk youth as the main determinants for their disproportionate contact with the criminal justice system: poverty, racism, community design, issues in the education system, and lack of economic opportunity for youth.

The purpose of this report is to provide stakeholders with a more thorough understanding of some of the issues affecting youth involved in the justice system and to present pragmatic recommendations that stakeholders can fully incorporate into their respective agencies and organizations.