Decision making and juvenile justice : an analysis of bias in case processing / Paul E. Tracy.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Tracy, Paul E.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Juvenile justice, Administration of--Decision making.

Juvenile justice, Administration of.

Discrimination in juvenile justice administration.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (207 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Distribution:

London : Bloomsbury Publishing, 2024

Place of Publication:

Westport, Conn. : Praeger, 2002.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Based on a comprehensive study of three counties in Texas, this work examines the idea of differential handling of minority youth offenders. Traditional wisdom indicates that minorities are over-represented in the juvenile justice system due to racism and discrimination within the system itself. The author refutes this logic by challenging current studies and examining the results of the Texas study. The findings suggest that minorities are represented in the juvenile justice system in greater numbers than their majority offender counterparts due to their greater involvement in criminal activity, not to any differential treatment they may receive at crucial decision points within the system. Allegations of racial bias against the juvenile justice system are often supported by the federal government, which suggests that minorities continue to be targeted more frequently for arrest, prosecution, conviction, and imprisonment merely because they are persons of color. Drawing on new research, the author addresses racial disparity in the juvenile justice system and contends that previous research suffers methodological and statistical analysis problems, resulting in the mischaracterization of the issue of racial bias. The present study argues that most minority juveniles receive different case outcomes because of the severity of their current offense, and both the length and severity of their prior delinquency careers. Tracy's research ultimately indicates that rather than being discriminatory, the juvenile system is, instead, reacting to a particular type of delinquent using legally permissible guidelines.

Contents:

Cover

DECISION MAKING AND JUVENILE JUSTICE

Contents

Illustrations

FIGURES

TABLES

Acknowledgments

1 Introduction

ORIGIN OF DISPROPORTIONATE MINORITY CONFINEMENT: FEDERAL MANDATES

EXTENT OF DISPROPORTIONATE MINORITY CONFINEMENT: THE FEDERAL VIEW

MINORITIES AND CRIME

Differential Involvement

Differential Selection

PRESENT RESEARCH

2 Prior Research

POPE AND FEYERHERM ASSESSMENT OF THE LITERATURE

Research Setting

Sample Selection

Measurement of Variables

Mode of Statistical Analysis

Other Assessments

PRIOR RESEARCH

Detention at Intake

Prosecutor's Decision

Disposition

Limitations

3 Methods

BACKGROUND TO PRESENT RESEARCH

SAMPLE SELECTION

MEASUREMENT OF VARIABLES

Dependent Variables

Independent Variables

Measurement Problems

Sample Selection Bias

NOTE

4 Minority Overrepresentation: Aggregate Measures

AGGREGATE DATA

Arrest/Referral Ratios

Texas Juvenile Probation Commission (TJPC) Referral Data

Disproportionate Representation Index (DRI)

LIMITATIONS OF AGGREGATE DATA

5 Decision Making in County-1

DETENTION DECISIONS

All Cases

Males

Females

Conclusion

FORWARD A CASE TO THE DISTRICT AT TORNEY

DA'S DECISION TO PROSECUTE A CASE

PLACEMENT BY THE COURT

SUPPLEMENTARY ANALYSIS: DETENTION RECORDS

STATUS OFFENSES

OFFENSES COMMITTED BY ASIAN-AMERICAN YOUTH

COUNTY-1 SUMMARY

NOTES

6 Decision Making in County-2

DECISION TO FORWARD A CASE TO THE DA

Conclusion.

PLACEMENT BY THE COURT

COUNTY-2 SUMMARY

7 Decision Making in County-3

ALL CASES

DECISION TO REFER CASE TO COURT

SUMMARY

8 Survey of Juvenile Justice Practitioners

METHODS

Sample Demographics

SURVEY RESULTS

Minorities in the Juvenile Justice System

Views on the Juvenile Justice System in Texas

Views on Delinquency

Ratings of Factors by Respondents' Profile

Case Scenario Evaluation

CONCLUSION

9 Summary and Implications

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

Aggregate Measures of Delinquency

Case-Level Data

Survey of Practitioners

IMPLICATIONS

Race and Delinquency Involvement

Juvenile Justice Policy

Bibliography

Index

About the Author.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references (p. [183]-190) and index.

ISBN:

9798400638541

9786610422760

9781280422768

1280422769

9780313010965

031301096X

OCLC:

232161595