Faculty Publications

Toward Clarification Of The Concept Of 'Minority' Status And Decision-Making In Juvenile Court Proceedings

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Journal of Crime and Justice

Volume

18

Issue

1

First Page

79

Last Page

108

Abstract

Although researchers have studied the influence of being a minority on juvenile court processing and case outcomes, few have adequately conceptualized and tested for the different effects being Latino may have relative to being African American or being white. There has also been a failure to consider all available case outcomes at the stage of intake and decision making across the juvenile justice system. In either situation, race/ethnic differences may be obscured or enhanced. The objective of the present research was to study decision-making within juvenile court proceedings in the state of Iowa to fill these voids. Utilizing an interpretation of conflict theory that emphasizes stereotyping upon decision-making, the results suggest that differences exist in the case processing and outcomes of Latinos, African Americans, and whites. Separating the outcome of release from diversion and a recommendation for further intervention at intake also provide evidence of race/ethnic differences that may have not been otherwise identified. © 1995, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.

Department

Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology

Original Publication Date

1-1-1995

DOI of published version

10.1080/0735648X.1995.9721036

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