This paper evaluates the impact of the prison-industrial complex on males from communities of color. In particular, it asks the following questions: What is the impact of the large increases in the proportion of state and local public funds dedicated to corrections? To what extent has the private corrections industry influenced and driven national, state, and local policy regarding criminal justice policy and programs?

This report focuses on well-being outcomes in urban, poor, and minority communities, particularly African American communities. Throughout this discussion, the analysis will be applied to black men. That said, much of the proposed framework can be applied to men in general, although admittedly, references to culture and race will need to be modified to consider the identity and experience of other groups of men in the context of their community identities, histories, and cultures.

This paper examines emerging strategies and models for effective treatment and support for young people in the juvenile justice system. It clarifies Medicaid regulations that affect states’ ability to deliver vital health services in a timely manner as young people enter and leave the juvenile justice system. And it offers guidance to state legislators, mental health and juvenile justice professionals, as well as others who are working to provide the wide range of health services needed by young people in the juvenile justice system.

This background paper examines the status of American Indians and Alaska Natives in higher education, with an emphasis on issues that influence American Indian and Alaska Native men’s enrollment and retention in college. Given the dearth of research on the educational experiences of this population, the paper reviews the relevant educational statistics and explores possible reasons why so many American Indian and Alaska Native men are not reaching college.

This background paper focuses on the impact of decisions to transfer young men of color from the juvenile justice system to adult criminal courts, as well as the impact that alternative sentences and alternatives to incarceration have on these youth. In addition to providing historical perspective and an overview of the relevant literature, the paper offers promising practices in alternative sentencing and alternatives to incarceration, and policy options to ensure proper interventions and assistance for young men of color.

This brief examines how the social, economic, and physical environments of Latino immigrant communities affect health and contribute to health disparities. This includes the process of acculturation and assimilation to U.S. culture, which is known to have negative health effects for some immigrants. Our focus, in this brief, is on Latino immigrants, because Latinos are the largest immigrant group and they are the fastest growing ethnic population.

To provide fuller detail on disparities in child health, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies analyzed selected child health indicators [low birthweight, health status (excellent, very good, good, fair, poor or unknown), unmet dental care needs, ADHD/ADD diagnosis, asthma diagnosis, learning disability diagnosis, and activity limitation] by sociodemographic characteristics of the families in which children reside. This brief examines disparities in diagnosing ADHD/ADD and learning disability among children under the age of 18 who are African American, Hispanic or white. Comparisons of the frequency with which diagnoses were received are made between the racial/ethnic groups of children overall and between children of various racial/ethnic groups in families with comparable sociodemographic characteristics (such as family type, educational attainment of householder, employment status of household, poverty status, and health insurance coverage). Hispanic children were found to be less likely than both white children and black children to have received a diagnosis of either condition, although interpreting the meaning of this disparity is complicated by the challenges associated with diagnosing neuro-behavioral conditions such as ADHD/ADD and learning disability.

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To provide fuller detail on disparities in child health, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies analyzed selected child health indicators [low birthweight, health status (excellent, very good, good, fair, poor or unknown), unmet dental care needs, ADHD/ADD diagnosis, asthma diagnosis, learning disability diagnosis, and activity limitation] by sociodemographic characteristics of the families in which children reside. This brief examines disparities in the reporting of unmet dental care needs (due to cost) during the past 12 months among children under the age of 18 who are African American, Hispanic or white. Comparisons of unmet dental care needs are made between the racial/ethnic groups of children overall and between children of various racial/ethnic groups in families with comparable sociodemographic characteristics (such as family type, educational attainment of householder, employment status of household, poverty status, and health insurance coverage). Hispanic children are most likely to report unmet dental care needs due to cost.

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To provide fuller detail on disparities in child health, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies undertook an examination of how selected child health indicators (low birthweight, health status (excellent, very good, good, fair, poor or unknown), unmet dental care needs, ADHD/ADD diagnosis, asthma diagnosis, learning disability diagnosis, and activity limitation) vary by sociodemographic characteristics. This brief examines disparities in the prevalence of a lifetime asthma diagnosis among children under the age of 18 who are African American, Hispanic or white. Comparisons of asthma frequency are made between the racial/ethnic groups of children overall and between children of various racial/ethnic groups in families with comparable sociodemographic characteristics (such as family type, educational attainment of householder, employment status of household, poverty status, and health insurance coverage).

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To provide fuller detail on disparities in child health, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies undertook an examination of how child health indicators vary by sociodemographic characteristics. Comparisons are made for the health indicators including low birthweight, health status, unmet dental care needs, ADHD/ADD diagnosis, lifetime asthma diagnosis, learning disability diagnosis, and activity limitation. The findings for black children and white children are provided in this brief.

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