Colleges and universities are required by the Clery Act to issue crime alerts to members of the campus community. Issuing agencies have significant discretion in the timing and information included in crime alerts, including the perpetrator descriptors. The inclusion of perpetrator/suspect descriptions in the crime alert is intended to maximize public safety. Race descriptors may have negative consequences through the repetition of minority suspect information. To address the issue of demographic use in crime alerts, a mixed method approach was employed. A summary review of several years of crime alerts issued by a large urban university was conducted to assess the role of demographics. Qualitative data were collected through a series of focus groups and interviews addressing the balance of public safety and potential negative perceptions (perpetuated by crime alerts). Reviewed crime alerts indicate that they are largely posted for violent crimes, particularly robbery, armed robbery, and aggravated assault. Perpetrators are overwhelmingly male and largely Black. It is reasonable to question whether repeated descriptions of crime acts committed by Black males could raise, foster, or enhance negative stereotypes. Recommendations for model crime alerts and campus events are included. Consideration of stereotype impacts may influence crime alerts but circumstances and public risk may supersede these concerns.

This article examines the outcomes of African American–led nonprofit organizations in improving the lives of the youth they serve. Using the framework of representative bureaucracy, this study suggests that demographic similarity among nonprofit leadership and nonprofit clients is transferable to increasing positive youth outcomes within African American–led youth-focused nonprofit organizations. Based on survey data from 727 youth, enhanced by qualitative interviews and focus groups, this research examines youth outcomes across three African American–led nonprofits and compares them with demographically similar youth in their communities. Youth outcomes are analyzed in the areas of academic performance, deviant behavior, family and social support, and self-esteem and resiliency. The findings suggest youth who participate in African American–led nonprofit organizations outperform their peers in the areas of academic performance and self-esteem. These outcomes are important because African American–led nonprofit organizations disproportionately serve African American youth who may not otherwise be served by other extracurricular programming.