The Criminal Justice Statistics Center at Minnesota Planning examines juvenile minority data in Race and Ethnicity of Juveniles in Minnesota’s Justice System. The report focuses on statewide findings as well as counties that have the highest juvenile population of each race and ethnicity.
Report findings include:
- American Indians were 49 percent of 1999 juvenile apprehensions and 27 percent of the 1999 juvenile population estimate in Beltrami County.
- African Americans were 12 percent of all disciplinary incidents reported by public schools in the 1996-1997 school year but jumped to 36 percent and 34 percent in the 1997-1998 and 1998-1999 school years, respectively.
- Race percentages of statewide school dropouts in 1998-1999 closely mirrors 1999 juvenile apprehensions.
- Eighty-seven percent of 1999 statewide African American juvenile apprehensions were in Hennepin and Ramsey counties.
“Making this data available to policymakers and citizens gives everybody a chance to assess what’s happening with Minnesota’s juveniles and develop more responsive public policy and make more informed decisions,” said Dean Barkley, director of Minnesota Planning.
Race and Ethnicity of Juveniles in Minnesota’s Justice System was prepared at the request of the Office of Youth Development, Department of Economic Security on behalf of the Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee. The report is available on the Internet or by calling Minnesota Planning at 651-296-3985.
Minnesota Planning is a state agency that develops long-range plans for the state, stimulates public participation in Minnesota's future and coordinates activities among all levels of government.
