Using juvenile court data of 4,284 cases, this study examined to what extent racial disparity
and discrimination existed for male property offenders within six counties in Missouri.
Logistic regression analyses tested probabilities of juveniles being processed in
the system at four decision-making points: referral, detention, adjudication, and disposition
when available legal factors and county type were controlled. The authors found
evidence of contextual racial discrimination in some jurisdictions during selected decision
points in the juvenile justice system. In all counties combined, Black youths were
more likely to be formally referred and detained before adjudication, whereas White
youths were more likely to be adjudicated. |