Combating Racism: Preventing the Criminalization of Normal Adolescent Behavior Among Youth of Color

OJJDP

7 Dec 202371:39

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this thought-provoking webinar, Professor Kristin Henning addresses the critical issue of combating racism and preventing the criminalization of normal adolescent behavior among youth of color. With extensive experience in the field, Henning shares insights into the racial disparities prevalent in the juvenile and criminal legal systems and emphasizes the need for systemic change. She advocates for a public health approach to safety, focusing on mental health, restorative justice, and racial equity, while also stressing the importance of reducing police presence in schools and investing in community-based solutions. Henning calls for policies that account for race, adolescence, and trauma in legal decision-making and highlights the role of caring adults in supporting youth development.

Takeaways

📚 The webinar addresses the critical issue of combating racism and preventing the criminalization of normal adolescent behavior among youth of color.
👩‍🏫 Professor Kristin Henning, an expert in juvenile justice, shares her experiences and research on the disproportionate representation of African American children in the juvenile and criminal legal systems.
👨‍💼 Trevor Wulff and Stephanie, from OJJDP's NTTAC, moderate the discussion and highlight the importance of understanding and addressing racial bias in youth behavior.
🧐 Professor Henning's personal experience reveals a shocking statistic: in 26 years of practice, she has only represented four white children, emphasizing the prevalence of racial disparities.
🌟 The discussion underscores that adolescence and its associated behaviors are universal, yet the societal response to these behaviors varies greatly and often falls along racial lines.
🚫 Racial bias leads to the criminalization of normal behaviors, and this has significant psychological and developmental impacts on children of color.
📉 Despite a decrease in youth arrests over the past 40 years, racial disparities have persisted and even widened, indicating a need for systemic change.
🏫 The presence of police in schools, a topic of historical debate, has been linked to increased arrests and referrals of students, particularly children of color.
🧠 Research shows that racial biases can distort perceptions of age, size, and threat level, leading to harsher and more frequent punitive actions against Black and Brown youth.
📝 Policy recommendations and resources are provided to help reframe the narrative and approach towards youth, focusing on restorative justice, mental health support, and community investment.
🌈 A comprehensive strategy for change involves legislative action, funding for effective programs, and the inclusion of children in decision-making processes to create a more equitable society for all youth.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the webinar?
-The main topic of the webinar is 'Combating Racism: Preventing the Criminalization of Normal Adolescent Behavior Among Youth of Color.'
Who is the presenter of the webinar?
-The presenter of the webinar is Professor Kristin Henning, the Blume Professor of Law and Director of the Juvenile Justice Clinic and Initiative at Georgetown Law.
Why did Professor Henning feel compelled to research and understand the disparities in the juvenile justice system?
-Professor Henning felt compelled to research and understand the disparities in the juvenile justice system after noticing that in her 26 years of practice, she had only represented four white children, despite the fact that white children also engage in delinquent behavior.
What is the significance of the story about Cherise?
-The story about Cherise, a 17-year-old girl who was arrested for robbery after taking her boyfriend's phone during an argument, is significant because it illustrates how normal adolescent behavior can lead to severe consequences, particularly for children of color.
What does Professor Henning believe is the key to addressing racial disparities in the juvenile justice system?
-Professor Henning believes that addressing racial disparities in the juvenile justice system requires a comprehensive approach that includes reducing the footprint of police in schools, investing in alternatives to traditional law enforcement strategies, ensuring developmentally appropriate police engagement, and accounting for race, adolescence, and trauma in court decisions.
What is the role of racial bias in the perception of Black and Brown children?
-Racial bias plays a significant role in the perception of Black and Brown children, often leading to the adultification of these children, meaning they are perceived as older, more dangerous, and less innocent than their white peers, even when they engage in similar behaviors.
How does the presence of law enforcement in schools impact students?
-The presence of law enforcement in schools often leads to increased arrests and referrals of children into the juvenile and criminal legal system. It has also been linked to reduced school attendance, academic achievement, and increased mental health and psychological concerns among students.
What are some of the strategies that can be implemented to create a more equitable juvenile justice system?
-Strategies to create a more equitable juvenile justice system include implementing a public health approach to school and community safety, investing in mental health providers, counselors, social workers, and peer intervention specialists, fully funding and implementing social-emotional learning in schools, and using restorative justice practices.
How does the adultification bias affect the interactions between law enforcement and Black children?
-The adultification bias can lead to law enforcement officers perceiving Black children as older, more culpable, and more dangerous than they are. This can result in harsher treatment, over-policing, and an increased likelihood of arrest and criminalization for normal adolescent behaviors.
What is the importance of having 'irrationally caring' adults in the lives of children?
-Having 'irrationally caring' adults in the lives of children is important because these adults provide unconditional love, support, and guidance. They are crucial for children's development, as they offer stability, understanding, and a safe space for children to learn from their mistakes without fear of ostracization.
What are the potential long-term effects of over-policing and hyper-surveillance on children of color?
-The long-term effects of over-policing and hyper-surveillance on children of color can include increased fear, anxiety, depression, and hopelessness. It can also lead to hypervigilance, poor sleep habits, negative impacts on academic performance, and a deep-seated distrust of authority figures, including law enforcement and educators.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 Introduction and Webinar Objectives

The webinar begins with Trevor Wulff, TTA Specialist with OJJDP's NTTAC, welcoming participants and addressing housekeeping notes. The webinar is recorded for future posting on OJJDP's YouTube and multimedia channels. Stephanie, a program manager with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, takes over, introducing Professor Kristin Henning, a prominent figure in juvenile justice. Professor Henning outlines the importance of the topic and her intentions to explore racial disparities in the juvenile system, her experience representing children in delinquency cases, and the extreme racial disparities she has witnessed.

05:02

👩‍🎓 The Story of Cherise and Normal Adolescent Behavior

Professor Henning shares the story of 'Cherise,' a 17-year-old girl who was arrested for taking her boyfriend's phone, highlighting how normal adolescent behavior is criminalized. She emphasizes that most adolescents, regardless of race or class, do not engage in the most feared violent offenses. The presentation also discusses the universal features of adolescence, such as impulsivity and risk-taking, and how societal responses to these behaviors vary.

10:05

👮‍♂️ Racial Disparities and the Criminalization of Youth

The discussion delves into the racial disparities in the juvenile and criminal legal systems, noting that these disparities have widened over the past 40 years despite overall crime reduction. Henning addresses the concept of 'normal adolescence' and how it's perceived differently across racial lines, leading to the criminalization of typical teenage behaviors in children of color. She also touches on the cultural biases that contribute to these disparities.

15:08

🏫 The Role of Police in Schools

Henning explores the historical context of police in schools, which originated not as a response to school shootings but as a means to address racial tensions and maintain order. She criticizes the presence of school resource officers, linking it to increased arrests and the funneling of children into the criminal system. The data presented shows that police presence does not make schools safer and is associated with negative outcomes for students.

20:10

🧐 Bias and Its Impact on Perception

This section focuses on the role of cognitive racial biases in shaping perceptions of Black and Brown children. Henning discusses research that shows adults perceive young Black males as older and more threatening than they are, which influences law enforcement interactions. She also covers the impact of group dynamics and how Black youth in groups are more likely to be perceived as dangerous, regardless of their actual behavior.

25:14

👨‍👧‍👦 The Psychological Impact on Children of Color

Henning outlines the detrimental psychological effects of hyper-surveillance and police contact on Black and Brown children, including fear, anxiety, depression, and hypervigilance. She emphasizes that this trauma is not only a result of direct contact with law enforcement but also from witnessing or hearing about such encounters. The research indicates that this stress can lead to physical health issues and poor sleep habits, affecting academic performance and social interactions.

30:15

🚨 The Consequences of Over-Policing

The discussion highlights how over-policing can be counterproductive, leading to increased crime rather than reduced crime. Henning stresses the importance of understanding the negative impacts of police contact on the adolescent identity formation. She shares research showing that extended periods of psychological trauma can lead to chronic health issues and that witnessing police brutality, even online, can cause significant trauma.

35:18

📚 Policy Implications and Recommendations

Henning provides policy recommendations based on the discussed issues, emphasizing the need to reduce the police footprint in children's lives, invest in alternatives to traditional law enforcement strategies, ensure developmentally appropriate police engagement, and account for race, adolescence, and trauma in court decisions. She also mentions additional resources for further reading and understanding of the subject.

40:23

🤝 Building Positive Relationships and Reforms

The final paragraph focuses on strategies for reform, including the importance of shifting societal narratives about children of color, providing every child with at least one irrationally caring adult, and implementing comprehensive, multifaceted strategies that include legislative solutions, financial backing, and the inclusion of children in decision-making processes. Henning stresses the importance of evidence-based strategies and the need for courageous leaders to support these initiatives.

45:29

📖 Closing Remarks and Upcoming Events

The webinar concludes with thanks to Professor Henning for her insights and a reminder of the importance of feedback for future improvements. An upcoming webinar is announced, focusing on empowering people working with youth to understand and prevent racism. Links for registration and evaluation are provided, and participants are informed they will receive a copy of the PowerPoint presentation.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Racial Disparities

Racial disparities refer to the unequal treatment or outcomes faced by different racial groups. In the context of the video, it highlights the disproportionate representation of children of color, particularly African American children, in the juvenile and criminal legal systems. The script emphasizes that these disparities exist not only in Washington, D.C., but across the United States, affecting the mental, physical, and developmental well-being of children of color.

💡Adolescent Behavior

Adolescent behavior encompasses the typical actions, emotions, and developmental traits displayed by teenagers. The video discusses how normal adolescent behaviors, such as impulsivity and risk-taking, are often criminalized for children of color. The script contrasts the societal response to white children's similar behaviors with that of children of color, pointing out the double standard and its impact on fairness and justice.

💡Criminalization

Criminalization is the process of treating certain behaviors as crimes by the legal system. In the video, it is used to describe how everyday behaviors of adolescents, particularly those of color, are unfairly turned into criminal offenses. The script provides examples such as the arrest of a girl for taking her boyfriend's phone, illustrating how the system often responds to children of color with punitive measures rather than understanding or support.

💡Juvenile Justice System

The juvenile justice system is a legal framework designed to address and respond to offenses committed by minors. The video focuses on the systemic issues within this system, particularly how it disproportionately impacts youth of color. It discusses the need for reform to ensure that the system treats all children fairly and accounts for their developmental stages and the impact of racial bias.

💡Implicit Bias

Implicit bias refers to the unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions. The video script delves into how implicit racial biases held by adults, including law enforcement, can lead to the perception of Black and Brown children as more threatening or older than they are. This bias contributes to the over-policing and harsh treatment of children of color within the legal system.

💡School Resource Officers

School resource officers are law enforcement officers assigned to work in schools to maintain a safe and secure environment. The video discusses the historical context and implications of having police in schools, particularly the increased likelihood of student arrests and the criminalization of normal adolescent behavior. It questions the effectiveness of police presence in schools in preventing crime and promoting a safe learning environment.

💡Trauma-Informed Care

Trauma-informed care is an approach that recognizes the widespread impact of trauma and seeks to actively prevent re-traumatization. The video emphasizes the importance of this approach in understanding and responding to the experiences of children of color who are in contact with the legal system. It suggests that a trauma-responsive framework is necessary for supporting the mental health and well-being of these children.

💡Restorative Justice

Restorative justice is a system of criminal justice that focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with victims and the community at large. The video suggests that restorative justice practices could be a part of the solution to address the harms caused by the current system. It implies that this approach could help in rebuilding trust and relationships within communities.

💡Social Determinants of Health

Social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age. These include factors like socioeconomic status, education, and neighborhood conditions. The video connects these determinants to the experiences of children of color within the legal system, suggesting that over-policing and surveillance can exacerbate health inequities and contribute to a cycle of disadvantage.

💡Community Policing

Community policing is a strategy that focuses on building partnerships between police and community members to identify and solve community problems. The video touches on the importance of positive relationships between law enforcement and youth but emphasizes that these should be paired with efforts to reduce unnecessary police contact and to address underlying biases and systemic issues.

💡Legislative Solutions

Legislative solutions refer to the development and implementation of new laws or policies to address societal issues. In the video, Professor Henning calls for legislative action to reform the juvenile justice system, reduce the footprint of police in schools, and to create more equitable outcomes for children of color. This includes the development of memoranda of understanding that clearly define the roles of police in schools and protect the rights of students.

Highlights

Trevor Wulff, TTA Specialist with OJJDP's NTTAC, introduces the webinar on combating racism and the criminalization of normal adolescent behavior among youth of color.

Professor Kristin Henning, Blume Professor of Law and Director of the Juvenile Justice Clinic and Initiative at Georgetown Law, presents her research on racial bias in the juvenile and criminal legal systems.

Professor Henning shares her experience of representing predominantly African American children in D.C., raising questions about racial disparities in the legal system.

The webinar discusses the case of 'Cherise,' a 17-year-old girl, to illustrate how normal adolescent behavior can lead to severe criminal charges and the long-term impact of such systemic interactions.

Adolescence is shown to be universally similar across cultures, yet responses to adolescent behavior vary greatly, particularly for children of color.

Research indicates that African American children are more likely to be arrested at school and subjected to harsher legal consequences, even for minor offenses.

The presentation highlights the historical context of police in schools, starting as early as 1939, often linked to racial integration concerns rather than safety.

Professor Henning emphasizes the importance of developmentally appropriate police engagement and the need to treat all children as children, regardless of race.

The webinar addresses the psychological impact of hyper-surveillance and over-policing on children of color, leading to increased trauma and mental health concerns.

Qualitative studies reveal that constant surveillance and negative encounters with law enforcement can lead to fear, anxiety, and a lack of trust in authority figures among Black and Brown youth.

The importance of restorative justice and social-emotional learning in schools is discussed as a means to address and prevent racial bias and its consequences.

Professor Henning calls for a holistic public health approach that includes mental health providers, counselors, and social workers in schools and communities.

The need for policy changes to reduce unnecessary police contact in schools and the community is emphasized, along with the implementation of evidence-based strategies for serious offenses.

Legislation and financial investments in community-based programs are identified as crucial components in addressing racial disparities in the juvenile justice system.

Professor Henning stresses the importance of having children involved in the decision-making process, advocating for their needs and listening to their solutions.

The webinar concludes with a call to action for a comprehensive, multifaceted strategy that centers on race equity, trauma responsiveness, and support for children.

Transcripts

Browse More Related Video

What Is Systemic Racism?

Empowering People Working with Youth to Understand and Prevent Racism

The Trauma of Being Black in Foster Care | Kizzy Lopez | TEDxFresnoState

Why the UK’s Race Report Sparked a Backlash

The Future of Nursing 2020-2030 Session 1: An Overview of Nursing’s Role in Addressing Health Equity

The 2022 Dr. William ‘Bill’ Jenkins Health Equity Lecture

Related Tags

Racism Prevention Adolescent Behavior Criminalization Juvenile Justice Systemic Reform Bias Training Youth of Color Webinar Insights Legal Disparities Community Policing Educational Equity