Nearly 430,000 children were arrested in 2020, and juvenile courts across the country hear nearly 800,000 cases each year. These young people may be interrogated by police without an attorney, enter guilty pleas without fully appreciating the consequences of doing so, or give up other important trial rights in violation of the Constitution. They may be appear in court unrepresented or find themselves burdened by records that cause long-term obstacles as they try to continue their education or work in their communities.
Racism pervades the justice system, leading to the arrest, prosecution, adjudication and incarceration of disproportionately greater numbers of youth of color than white youth, even while youth offending patterns are relatively similar. Moreover, fines and fees imposed on youth create an unfair system of “justice by income,” where children in poverty face an increased risk of incarceration, while more affluent youth receive effective community-based treatment. Justice should not be based on race, where a child lives, or the family’s income.
Youth deserve legal protections and experienced lawyers to challenge unconstitutional laws, oppose unfair policies or practices, and hold systems accountable when they harm youth and their families.
Images: © Richard Ross, juvenile-in-justice.com
Karibu watoto 430,000 walikamatwa mnamo 2020, na mahakama za vijana nchini kote husikia karibu kesi 800,000 kila mwaka. Vijana hawa wanaweza kuhojiwa na polisi bila wakili, kujiunga na mashtaka ya hatia bila kufahamu kabisa matokeo ya kufanya hivyo, au kuacha haki nyingine muhimu za kesi kwa kukiuka Katiba. Wanaweza kuonekana mahakamani bila kuwakilishwa au kujikuta wamezidiwa na rekodi ambazo husababisha vikwazo vya muda mrefu wanapojaribu kuendelea na elimu yao au kufanya kazi katika jamii zao. Ubaguzi wa rangi umefika katika mfumo wa haki, na kusababisha kukamatwa, kushtakiwa, hukumu na kufungwa kwa idadi kubwa ya vijana wenye rangi kuliko vijana weupe, hata wakati mifumo ya uovu wa vijana ni sawa. Zaidi ya hayo, faini na ada zilizowekwa kwa vijana huunda mfumo usio wa haki wa "haki kulingana na mapato", ambapo watoto walio maskini wanakabiliwa na hatari kubwa ya kufungwa, wakati vijana matajiri zaidi hupokea matibabu yenye ufanisi ya jamii. Haki haipaswi kutegemea jamii, mahali ambapo mtoto anaishi, au mapato ya familia. Vijana wanastahili ulinzi wa kisheria na wanasheria wenye uzoefu kupinga sheria zisizo za kikatiba, kupinga sera au mazoea yasiyo ya haki, na kuwajibisha mifumo inapowadhuru vijana na familia zao. Picha: Richard Ross, Juvenile Justice