Federal Investigation Finds St. Louis Juvenile Justice Court Violates Youth Due Process Rights, Discriminates Against Black Children

On July 31, 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Civil Rights Division announced that its investigation of 33,000 cases handled by the St. Louis County Family Court indicated that the court violated youth constitutional due process rights. Additionally, the DOJ said the court  discriminated against Black children in violation of Equal Protection. The court handles about 6,000 youth cases annually. Black children were 1.5 times more likely than White children to have their cases handled formally; as a result, Black children had fewer opportunities for diversion. White youths who receive the same conviction are more . . .