The Guam Advisory Committee Releases Report on Examining the Overrepresentation of COFA Migrants within Guam’s Criminal Justice System

The Guam Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights released a report, Examining the Overrepresentation of COFA Migrants within Guam’s Criminal Justice System, following a series of web briefings. During this study, the Committee received testimony and written statements from various stakeholders including researchers, legal and community advocates, judicial representatives, various government officials and impacted families.

The recommendations in the report are directed to the Commission, requesting specific actions from stakeholders, including the U.S. Congress and President, Guam’s Governor, Legislature, and Judiciary, Guam’s Police Department, Guam’s Attorney General, Guam’s Department of Corrections, Guam’s Board of Education, Guam’s Department of Youth Affairs, Guam’s Behavioral Health and Wellness Center, Guam’s Community College, Guam’s Memorial Hospital Authority and the Department of Public Health and Social Services, Guam’s Mayor’s Council of Guam, and Guam’s Housing Urban Renewal Authority to remedy the above barriers.

The Committee is grateful to those who provided testimony and statements regarding the overrepresentation of COFA Migrants within Guam’s criminal justice system, particularly from impacted individuals and community leaders within the COFA community on Guam. The Committee urges Federal and Guam policymakers and authorities to carefully consider the findings in our report and adopt the recommendations to ensure COFA Migrants are treated equitably in Guam and the criminal justice system.