Negative Effect of Racial Discrimination on Minority Youth in the Juvenile Justice System

• NCJ Number: 126241
• Journal: International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 34 Issue: 2 Dated: (September 1990) Pages: 87-93
• Author(s): W K Brown; W A Rhodes; T P Miller; R L Jenkins
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 7 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Discriminatory treatment of black adolescents in our juvenile justice system has been reported to contribute to an unfavorable adult outcome for such adolescents.

Abstract

In a long term follow-up of 500 randomly selected cases of adolescents adjudicated delinquent in the Dauphin County (Pennsylvania) Juvenile Court during the years 1960-75, minority (black) adolescents received discriminatory lenience in that they were treated like younger children. Those who received such lenient treatment had a higher rate of adult conviction than those not so treated. 4 tables and 15 references. (Author abstract)