Title of Presentation/Proposal/Etc.
“Working Class African American and Latino Youth in the Texas Judicial System”
Start Date
25-2-2021 8:00 AM
Presentation Type
Faculty Presentation
Abstract
This paper evaluates the important issue of minority youth in the Texas criminal justice system and related socioeconomic and mental health issues. This research uses an original data collected from interviewing judges from district courts in Texas. This research looks into possible factors that may affect African American and Latino youth’s likelihood of entering the criminal justice system in Texas. It also offers a historical overview of criminal justice reform; provides information about the latest, most effective strategies used in assessing cases; assesses the social, economic, and emotional costs of criminal justice system involvement; and evaluates the impact that racial biases have in the lives of African American and Latino youth in Texas courts. Furthermore, the paper looks at the economic cost of mental health and legal aid incurred by working class minorities and analyzes the extent to which they can pay for it. Lastly, it looks at proposed solutions to better address this issue and programs that aid these minority groups. In the interviews, the research asks about their views on socioeconomic factors and programs aimed at treating minorities with mental health issues and intellectual disabilities in the judicial system, and recommendations on how to better address this population group.
Location
Virtual
“Working Class African American and Latino Youth in the Texas Judicial System”
Virtual
This paper evaluates the important issue of minority youth in the Texas criminal justice system and related socioeconomic and mental health issues. This research uses an original data collected from interviewing judges from district courts in Texas. This research looks into possible factors that may affect African American and Latino youth’s likelihood of entering the criminal justice system in Texas. It also offers a historical overview of criminal justice reform; provides information about the latest, most effective strategies used in assessing cases; assesses the social, economic, and emotional costs of criminal justice system involvement; and evaluates the impact that racial biases have in the lives of African American and Latino youth in Texas courts. Furthermore, the paper looks at the economic cost of mental health and legal aid incurred by working class minorities and analyzes the extent to which they can pay for it. Lastly, it looks at proposed solutions to better address this issue and programs that aid these minority groups. In the interviews, the research asks about their views on socioeconomic factors and programs aimed at treating minorities with mental health issues and intellectual disabilities in the judicial system, and recommendations on how to better address this population group.