King County Superior Court Presiding Judge Susan Craighead today acknowledged the need for the Court and the County to listen to the community and take action on the difficult topic of racial disproportionality in the juvenile justice system.

In remarks Feb. 12 to the Court’s annual Tribute to Justice Thurgood Marshall,  Craighead said not all racial groups have benefited equally from work that successfully reduced the overall numbers of youth involved in the court system and in detention.

“As leaders of our justice system, we must take responsibility for our role in allowing racial disproportionality to become a fact of life in the juvenile justice system,” said Craighead. “We deeply regret this. And today we ask for the community’s help to make things right.”

Of great concern is the disparate impact of the juvenile justice system on African American youth. From 1998 to 2014, the numbers of African American youth in the justice system declined, but their percentage in the system increased. While African American youth make up nearly 10 percent of the broader youth population, in 2014 they accounted for 42 percent of law enforcement referrals, up from 35 percent in 2013.

Craighead asked for an open dialogue with the community, through a series of listening sessions with families and community leaders.