Book chronicles justice system’s disparate treatment of Black and white juveniles

Racial Justice

By Judge Ramon Ocasio III

Judge Ramon Ocasio III has served as a judge for 15 years and presides over a felony courtroom in the 4th Municipal District for the Cook County Circuit Court. He was named Catholic Lawyer of the Year by the Catholic Lawyers Guild of Chicago.

Posted December 2, 2021 11:22 AM

At the start of Professor Kristin Henning’s new book, “The Rage of Innocence: How America Criminalizes Black Youth” (Pantheon 2021), she shares the story of a former client she calls Eric, which is not his real name.Eric, a typical 13-year-old boy, was watching a movie, saw someone with a Molotov cocktail, and decided to build one. He put it together using household products including Pine-Sol and bleach, placed it in his backpack, and forgot about it. Fatefully, Eric went to school and school officials found it. As a …

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