Examining Racial Disparity of Male Property Offenders in the Missouri Juvenile Justice System

Abstract

Using juvenile court data of 4,284 cases, this study examined to what extent racial disparity and discrimination existed for male property offenders within six counties in Missouri. Logistic regression analyses tested probabilities of juveniles being processed in the system at four decision-making points: referral, detention, adjudication, and disposition when available legal factors and county type were controlled. The authors found evidence of contextual racial discrimination in some jurisdictions during selected decision points in the juvenile justice system. In all counties combined, Black youths were more likely to be formally referred and detained before adjudication, whereas White youths were more likely to be adjudicated.