Latino Overrepresentation in the Criminal Justice Systems
By Cinthia Rodriguez - El Observador
La Raza Roundtable de California met city and county officials met at 12:30pm on Wednesday, February 10, 2010, in the Center for Training and Careers (CTC), to discuss a conflict assessment done by the Harvard Negotiation and Mediation Clinical Program (HNMCP). The issue was that of Latino overrepresentation in the justice and juvenile dependency systems in the City of San Jose and Santa Clara County.
"We are here today to look for ways to reduce the disproportionate minority confinement in our juvenile hall branches and in our county jail," said District Attorney, Dolores Carr.
According to the Probation Department of the Santa Clara County, more than 70% of the population in juvenile facilities is Hispanic.
"It's a problem that we are all committed to solve," said Jeff Smith, County Executive.
The HNMCP team conducted interviews with approximately 50 individuals. Approximately one-third of those interviews were conducted in person, during the team's visit to San Jose in October 2009 and the rest were done telephonically.
"We are committed to working together," said Mayor Chuck Reed.  "I'm pleased to see the work being done." In October 2009, Mayor Chuck Reed, San Jose City Manager Debra Figone, San Jose City Councilwoman Rose Herrera, and Rev. Sal Alvarez also met with the HNMCP team in Cambridge, Massachusetts to discuss the report.
The HNMCP team developed recommendations based on the findings developed through the interviews and discussions held with La Raza Roundtable, Mayor Reed's office, and Supervisor Cortese.
There were five major findings and along with those findings, recommendations were made, which are fully explained in the report.
"The assessment goes beyond making sure that systems are not in denial," said Supervisor Cortese. "This fully exposes the problem but in a collaborative manner and in an objective manner."
"What's going on is a crime," said Victor Garza. "There is going to be positive change in this community."
The County of Santa Clara is fully on board.  An equal justice task force within the office of District Attorney Dolores Carr is being developed. Christopher Arriola, Deputy District Attorney, will head the task force.
The San Jose Police Department will be working collectively with the other law enforcement agencies in the Santa Clara County. They would like to experience the same success with other models that are being used.