Native youth arrested more often in South Dakota

Tuesday, January 23, 2007  

Native American youth in South Dakota are more than twice as likely to be arrested than whites, according to 2004 data from the Council of Juvenile Services.

Arrest rates for Native youth were 2.39 times higher than those for whites. The rates for African-American youth were 2.32 times higher.

Prior reports have shown that Native adults are arrested more often and treated more harshly in the state's justice system despite committing no more crimes per capita than whites.

Get the Story:
3 S.D. cities explore youth crime, race (The SIoux Falls Argus Leader 1/23)

Equal Justice Commission Final Report:
Report and Recommendations (January 2006)

Justice System Study:
Justice In South Dakota: Does Race Make A Difference? (October 2002)

Related Stories:
South Dakota Indians treated differently in courts (09/25)
South Dakota commission releases final report (02/21)
Indian woman named to South Dakota parole board (01/12)
Editorial: Native American on parole board needed (02/28)
Bill to add Indian to state parole board rejected (2/23)
Indian lawmaker introduces racial profiling bill (02/03)
Report to downplay race as factor in justice system (07/20)
Race study confirms disparity (10/28)
S.D. study shows disparity in justice (10/22)