NCJ Number
147064
Date Published
1993
Length
86 pages
Annotation
Research on the overrepresentation of minorities in the Texas juvenile justice system indicated that 1992 black and Hispanic youths commitment rates were eight and three times higher, respectively, than the rate for white youths and that minorities accounted for 80 percent of youths involved with the Texas Youth Commission (TYC).
Abstract
Higher delinquency levels by minorities accounted for some but not all of this disparity. The referral rate for black youths was 3.5 times greater than for white youths, and the referral rate for Hispanic youths was twice that of white youths. Even after considering higher referral rates for minorities, differences in commitment rates still existed. For example, the rate of violent offender commitments per violent felony referrals was 9.3 for black youths, compared to 8.9 for Hispanic youths and 4.8 for white youths. Black juveniles had the highest combined certification/commitment rate per 100 felony delinquent referrals (8.2), with Hispanic youths somewhat lower (6.0) and white youth the lowest (3.2). While both minority and white youths committed to the TYC for the first time had about the same number of felony referrals and felony adjudications, there was a substantial difference in the number of prior placements to community residential treatment programs. Minority youths were twice as likely to have been committed to TYC without the benefit of prior community placement. No ethnic differences were observed in the provision of specialized treatment for sex offenders and chemically dependent offenders, but differences were found for capital offenders and emotionally disturbed youths. Recommendations to reduce the overrepresentation of minorities in the juvenile justice system are offered. Supplemental information on minorities in the Texas juvenile justice system, commitment rates, and residential placements is appended, along with the TYC initial placement form and instructions. Tables, figures, and references