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By Catherine Carlock
NORFOLK
About 200 people gathered at Ruffner Middle School on Friday for the "Community Youth Justice Jam," an event held to encourage discussion about the fairness of the juvenile justice system.
The justice system does not treat youths equally, said Liz Ryan, president and CEO of the Campaign for Youth Justice, a group that co-sponsored the event.
"African American youth are treated more harshly than white youth for similar offenses," she said.
In January, The Virginian-Pilot reported that four times as many black children as white go into Norfolk's juvenile justice system, even though black people make up less than one-half of the city's population.
JustChildren, a program based in Charlottesville, partnered with the advocacy group Families & Allies of Virginia's Youth to organize the event.
The purpose of Friday's event was to encourage dialogue among Norfolk residents, said Kate Duvall, an attorney with JustChildren.
Camye Allen, who has worked in juvenile justice for 15 years, brought her niece and daughter.
"I want to see things happen differently... so I can get more involved in making a change in law," she said.
The panelists focused on empowering the young people in the crowd to make good decisions and be leaders among their friends.
"We don't want to see you in a court," said panelist Michelle Atkins, a judge in the Norfolk Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. "I don't want to see you unless it's in a grocery store."
The panelists discussed the fact that teenagers as young as 14 can be tried as adults and incarcerated with adults - something the panelists said is not healthy or safe.
After the panel discussion, young people took part in a poetry contest.
Eight finalists were chosen from a group of around 20 participants. Duvall said that some of the poems were submitted by incarcerated young people.
Richard Love, 18, who attended the event, won first place for his poem "Justice."
"Justice is what they promised me I watched all the empty promises handed to me hang 50 feet upon weeping willow trees," he read.
Love said he has been writing since age 12. He will attend Norfolk State University in the fall and major in music education.
Catherine Carlock, (757) 446-2352, catherine.carlock@pilotonline.com
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"four times as many black
"four times as many black children as white go into Norfolk's juvenile justice system" Maybe - just maybe - this is because four times as many black children commit crimes? Hmm. (Just a little food for thought in a world where political correctness has run amuck.) "African American youth are treated more harshly than white youth for similar offenses..." First, if so much of your allegiance is to Africa that you label yourself African before American, then I have less sympathy for you. Start calling yourself simply "American" (or even "black American" if you must set all the focus on your race) and you may be surprised at the changes. Secondly, who are your saying treats blacks more harshly? Is it the black police officers in Norfolk? Maybe it's the black judges or corrections officers? I seriously doubt these claims. I think, instead, you are trying to harness the power of guilt, and use it to your advantage. Unfortunately just about all of that capital has been used up.
Be for real people....
If you want less "african american" kids in jail then come together as a community of black people and do the job their parents failed to do. I watch the news quite regularly. Most of the crimes being committed are by black youth. It's not a gang of white kids that beat up and killed that guy in Oceanview, it was a gang of black kids. That's just one example. Most of the crimes are black on black. Example, the kid shot outside the Chinese food restaurant. Quit blaming the woes of the black youth on the justice system. Fact is, they committed the crimes. They are where they need to be...locked up. Bottom line...If Obama can...You can too. No more excuses. Quit allowing these kids to use their upbringing as an excuse for committing crimes. BTW...who wrote and recited the poem "Justice"..the caption says Chukwuemeka Onyirimba while the article says Richard Love. Geeze.....(rolling eyes)
Poetry contest theme
The theme of the poetry contest was "Justice," and many of its participants-- including both Chukwuemeka Onyirimba and Richard Love-- gave their poems the same name.
Thanks for reading.
-Catherine Carlock, Pilot reporter
knowledge is power
I agree with the first response to this article. Show me numbers and then print an article so people can see facts. I also agree with the poster who joking the young man's name. If they weren't committing this types of crimes than they wouldn't be in the system. It is ashame to see so many african americans committing these crimes, and it won't change with laws makers, but at home with the proper guidance from parents, and when we as a people decide to accept responsiblity for our actions and stop with the blame game. The common statement "I didn't grow up with a father to guide me in the right direction." My response "you know right from wrong". So few don't take a negative situation and turn it into a positive situation." It's fairly simple and the words that would best describe this is acheive, strive, believe, and suceed. But I'm just talking. What do I know
BUT SERIOUSLY FOLKS
This really is a poorly researched and badly written article, illustrated with a truly horriblly shot and cropped photo.
" poorly researched "
In reference to what in particular?
Talk about smoke, mirrors and misdirection!
To quote: "In January, The Virginian-Pilot reported that four times as many black children as white go into Norfolk's juvenile justice system, even though black people make up less than one-half of the city's population".
So what? What are you getting at? Are you trying to say that the Police are racist? The Courts are racist? I beg to differ with you. Four times as many blacks kids go into the system, because at least four times as many black kids commit crimes, compared with white kids. Occam's Razor at its best!
Stop apologizing for the poor little innocents. Their wanton criminal acts are the reason that they go into the juvenile justice system.
The truth hurts? Tough!
Liz Ryan is blowing smoke
First of all, a look at juvenile crime statistics will show you that seventy percent of the crime is being committed by African American kids(FACT). The fact that African Americans account for less than half of the population has nothing to do with anything! The pre-sentence reports, along with prior offenses, are the predominant factors that didtate incarceration. When little Billy has already been to court four times and lives with a six-five year old Grandmother because his one parent is incapable of raising him what else can the court do? This is NOT a discrimination issue it's a failure of the African American Community. Blaming it on white people won't change the facts as hard as they may be to accept.
Pitiful
It is a shame that a society has to contemplate such an issue. Our children are our future and according to this, our future is looking poorly. I am aware of the difference in our incarcerated and prosicuted youth. However, dispite that the Pilot published that a round about estimation is four times more black youth are in the judicial system compared to the population, nothing is mentioned as to the breakdown of each racial group, by numbers, showing an injustice. I believe in equal rights yet unless you show me numbers, it is hard to believe this story. It may be true that there are four black youths in the legal system for every white youth however, what are the numbers? It would be interesting to see a graph or pie chart comparing the numbers. How many of each race is initially charged with a crime then compare that to how many are in the system of each race. If one selected group is committing crimes, it is unethical to publish their blight due to race, religion, sex, or origin. You show me numbers and then this would show straight forward reporting. The article seems to have a misguided direction. WHY?