Racial inequality within the juvenile justice system has been cited by numerous studies. This racial inequality is generally referred to as disproportionate minority contact (DMC), and the causes have been debated in the literature for decades. Using a relatively unique methodology for DMC literature, this study incorporated in-depth interview data from thirty male juveniles residing in a private correctional facility to elucidate possible causes of DMC. By analyzing and comparing the experiences of incarcerated juveniles, support for theories of systemic racism, Donald Black’s self-help or the community justice theory, and Agnew’s general strain theory was found. Themes that emerged from the qualitative data include differences in neighborhood and family contexts for minorities compared to whites, variations in motivations for engagement in criminal activity, and differences in the interactions with police officers and perceptions of the police based on race. Specifically, major findings show minority participants were more likely to describe anger and revenge as the most common reason for committing crimes compared to whites, who frequently cited boredom as their primary reason for engaging in criminal activity. Furthermore, black, Latino, and Native American participants were more likely to report growing up in dangerous neighborhoods than whites. Police interactions also showed a racial discrepancy, with whites receiving more chances from the police, and minorities being repeatedly arrested by the same officer slightly more frequently than whites. Overall, findings suggest that disproportionate minority contact is a result of disproportionate levels of strain and injustice experienced by minorities compared to whites.

The current research study examines the relationship between race, ethnicity, and offense type on three stages of juvenile court outcomes (i.e., petition, adjudication, and disposition). In the past, research has focused on the prevalence of disproportionate minority contact, especially when it comes to disparities found in sanctioning outcomes of Black and White juveniles. However, prior research included Hispanic youth, despite being one of the largest growing ethnicity groups in the United States. The current study also examines whether juveniles charged with drug offenses are treated more severely when compared to juveniles charged with a person, property, and other offenses, to investigate the possible continuance of the War on Drugs and the effect it may have on the juvenile justice system. Through various logistic regression models based on data from a Northeastern state from the years 2004-2014, the study confirmed disparities among the court outcomes for White, Black, and Hispanic juveniles. Differences were also found when looking at juveniles charged with drug offenses versus those charged with a person, property, and other offenses. Last, the race and ethnicity of the juvenile charged with a drug offense also influenced juvenile court outcomes. Further research into the impact of race, ethnicity, and offense type on court processing is necessary to shape policy and programs to better ensure fair and equal treatment in the juvenile justice system.

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