Awareness to Action
The pursuit of racial justice requires envisioning and implementing equity and fairness in the transformation of the juvenile justice system. The commitment to equity and fairness includes viable initiatives and sustainable solutions in understanding awareness, facts, and action.
The Office of Juvenile Justice’s goal is to:
- Increase awareness of the situations experienced by youth of color.
- Use facts, data, and evidence-based practices.
- Take action to improve the juvenile justice system.
Disparities based on race and ethnicity are rooted in systemic and structural inequity. systems. The functioning of a just and fair justice system is under threat if we fail to address bias within:
- Systems.
- Policies or practices.
- Structural inequalities. This can be poverty or lack of access to quality schools and health care.
Addressing racial and ethnic disparities is not always easy. The good news is that progress can be made by working together to help reduce or even eliminate disparities.
