In 2021, New York State initiated a project to address racial disparities in its juvenile justice system, specifically targeting the disproportionate criminalization of Black youth. Five counties each received $50,000 to develop plans aimed at diverting more young individuals with low-level charges away from court proceedings and into supportive services. While the initiative is ongoing and full outcomes are still awaited, preliminary results highlight its potential.
Schenectady County, located north of Albany, adopted a novel decision-making framework that increased the proportion of Black youth diverted from the juvenile justice system by 13%. This change involved collaborative evaluations by probation officers, social workers, behavioral health specialists, and youth service agency staff. Together, they reviewed cases, considering the challenges faced by the youth and exploring alternative interventions. The process included input from the youth themselves. Additionally, identifying details, such as race, were removed from case files to minimize implicit bias.
Officials in Schenectady County and national justice experts believe these measures demonstrate that systemic discrimination can be tackled. “The success here came because county leadership was invested, the probation department was invested, and community partners were invested,” said Arthur Butler of the county’s Human Rights Commission.
