The Criminalization of Poor DC Youth

The Criminalization of Poor DC Youth YOUTH IN THE DC JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM 98% Black or Hispanic 95% 78% Male 22% Female Live Below the 57% Federal Poverty Level Age 16 or 17 11% 13 & under 32% 14 or 15 DC YOUTH INVOLVED IN JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM LIVE IN UNDER RESOURCED NEIGHBORHOODS Divided City Unemployment Bachelor's Degree or Higher Youth Arrests Child Poverty 70% Female- Headed Households with Children Rates 48% 26% 77% 74% 26% Live in Wards 5, 7, and 8 14 16% .01% 12% Live in Ward 3 3.1% .01% 95% 35 7 8 3578 357 8 3578 3 578 8. Wards Live East of 16th Street NW More than 8 in 10 Elementary Students in Ward 3 are at Fewer than 4 in 10 Elementary Students in Wards 5, 7, and 8 Grade Level are at Grade Level MONEY GOES TO CRISIS NOT PREVENTION Average Per Youth Cost of the DC Juvenile Justice System The Federal 2x Poverty Line for a Family of Three 4x The Amount Spent Per Student in DC Public Middle Schools $41,500 $19,090 $9,213 DCLY Youth Justice Awareness Month 2012 www.facebook.com/DCLawyers4Youth #youthjustice DC LAWYERS FOR YOUTH