According to recent polls, the issues of crime and justice are of great importance to the Latino community. Lost Opportunities, co-authored by NCLR, the Center for Youth Policy Research (CYPR), and Michigan State University's (MSU) Office of University Outreach & Engagement, is the first comprehensive examination of Latinos in every facet of the criminal justice system - from the moment of arrest to sentencing. The book documents the overrepresentation of Latinos in the system, the disparate treatment they receive, and the impact of government policies such as the "war on drugs" and "get tough on crime" on the Hispanic population. During the briefing, the authors will discuss the book's findings and present policy recommendations that have proven effective in protecting public safety, reducing crime, and saving costs to the criminal justice system.

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHEN: Thursday, October 14, 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: Room S-211, U.S. Capitol (enter from Constitution Avenue)
WHAT: News briefing and question-and-answer session with Janet Murguia, Executive Director and COO of NCLR, and the authors of Lost Opportunities: The Reality of Latinos in the U.S. Criminal Justice System.
WHO: Speakers expected at the briefing include the following:


Janet Murguia, Executive Director and COO, NCLR
Nancy E. Walker, President and Senior Research Fellow, CYPR
Francisco A. Villarruel, Professor of Family and Child Ecology, Outreach Fellow, and Research Associate, MSU
J. Michael Senger, Senior Staff Attorney, CYPR
Angela Arboleda, Civil Rights Policy Analyst, NCLR