In 1998, the majority of juvenile arrests involved whites. Black youth, however, were overrepresented as a proportion of arrests in 267 of 29 offense categories documented by the FBI. In 1997, most cases referred to juvenile court involved white youth, but minorities were overrepresented in the referral cohort. While white youths comprised 66 percent of the juvenile court referral population, they comprised 53 percent of the detained population. In contrast, black youths made up 31 percent of the referral population and 44 percent of the detained population. In every offense category, more black than white youths were detained. Black youth were more likely than white youth to be formally charged in juvenile court, even when referred for the same offense type. Minority youth were much more likely than white youth to be waived to adult criminal court. Black youth were overrepresented in cases receiving a disposition of out-of-home placement. Further, minority youth were overrepresented in residential placement facilities for all offense categories and were confined behind locked doors twice as often as white youth. While representing 34 percent of the U.S. juvenile population in 1997, minorities represented 62 percent of those in detention, 67 percent of youth committed to public facilities, and 55 percent of youths committed to private facilities. Overrepresentation of minority youth and underrepresentation of white youth were reported by nearly every State reporting juvenile admissions to adult prisons in 1996. The proportion of juvenile prison admissions involving a drug offense was three times greater among black than white youth in 1997. The report concludes that a nationwide effort is needed to identify causes of the differential treatment of minority youth and to provide a fair and equal justice system for all young people. References, endnotes, tables, and figures