Demographics - 20/11/15

Doi : 10.1016/j.chc.2015.08.001

Artha J. Gillis, MD, PhD ^a,^⁎ , Eraka Bath, MD ^b
^a Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, 760 Westwood Plaza, Room C8-193, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
^b Child Forensic Services, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute, University of California Los Angeles, 300 Medical Plaza, Room 1243, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA

^∗Corresponding author.

Résumé

There is a large proportion of minority youth involved in the juvenile justice system. Disproportionate minority contact (DMC) occurs when the proportion of any ethnic group is higher at any given stage in the juvenile justice process than the proportion of this group in the general population. There are several theories explaining the presence and persistence of DMC. This article reviews the history of DMC and the theories and implications of this problem. It discusses several targets for interventions designed to reduce DMC and offer resources in this area.

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Keywords : Disproportionate minority contact, Disproportionate minority confinement, Juvenile delinquency, Racial disparities

Plan

Key points

Introduction

Definition

Historical Legislative Trends and Shifts in the Juvenile Justice System

Theories explaining disproportionate minority contact

Differential Involvement in Crime

Differential Selection and Processing in the Juvenile Justice System

Combined Effects of Differential Involvement in Crime and Differential Selection and Processing in the Juvenile Justice System

Implications

Interventions

Resources

Disclosures: Dr A.J. Gillis has nothing to disclose. Dr E. Bath receives funding from the NIMH (2P20 MD000182) and the Los Angeles County Department of Probation.