Therefore, educational and mental health concerns are highlighted for Hispanic youth entering into the juvenile justice system. Conclusion

The juvenile justice system in the United States is out-of-control. While Fairfax County, Virginia's juvenile justice system is not experiencing the same problems as other areas, it would be erroneous to assume that its system is still the best way of dealing with juvenile offenders. Fairfax County has a large Hispanic population, and Hispanic youth are overrepresented in its juvenile justice system. One must assume that a lack of cultural sensitivity has helped contribute to this problem. Ensuring that Hispanic youth and their families have access to the same quality of non-penal services as other youth would help divert these children from the juvenile justice system. Moreover, it is critical to realize that Hispanic youth are already considered at-risk in comparison to the white population. Hispanic youth are far more likely to attempt suicide and to drop out of school than white youth. Juvenile detention is only likely to exacerbate these problems. Focusing on community intervention, preferably before a child ever has an opportunity to offend, is a better solution...

(2009, June 11). Latino youth in the juvenile justice system -- key facts.
Retrieved October 11, 2011 from Reclaiming Futures website: http://www.reclaimingfutures.org/blog/node/1028

County of Fairfax Virginia. (2011). Delinquency (juvenile criminal cases). Retrieved

from http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/courts/jdr/jdrDelinquency.htm

County of Fairfax Virginia. (2011). Juvenile detention center general information. Retrieved from http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/courts/jdr/jdc/jdc01geninfo.htm

County of Fairfax Virginia. (2011). Status offenses. Retrieved from http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/courts/jdr/jdrStatus.htm

Neelum, A., Villarreal, F., Villanueva, C. And Augarten, I. (2009, May 20). America's invisible children: Latino youth and the failure of justice. Retrieved October 11, 2011 from Models for Change website: http://modelsforchange.net/publications/213

Stier, K. (2009, March 24). Getting the juvenile-justice system to grow up. Time. Retrieved from http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1887182,00.html