The Disproportionate Overrepresentation of Minority Youth in ...

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An examination of the responses to the closed ended questions also reveals that
juvenile justice personnel do not see economic factors, being poor, and discrimination as
major causes of delinquency. In responding to these questions, roughly one-third of the
decision makers perceived them to be very to pretty important. Fifty-seven percent,
however, did believe that job opportunities were very to pretty important.
Although socio-economic conditions are cited as more important than indicated in
the responses to the closed ended questions, changes in the structure of the family and in
the family dynamics stood out as the dominant factors. The responses to two questions,
“Are there any factors that hinder you from performing your job” and “What factors do
you consider when deciding a case” illustrate the emphases placed on the family and
rehabilitation/protection of society and the family.
Another thing we look at pretty seriously is what degree of control do the
parents exercise over the child. Are the parents drug dealers who are never
home, are they involved in the crimes with the kids, ..., what efforts have
the parents made to alleviate the problems. Have they sought counseling,
what has been the degree of involvement of the parents to control their
kids and obtain services and follow through or have they sat back and
basically made excuses for the kid. . .do the parents want the child and
what degree of control can they exercise over this kid.. .If it’s not a very
serious offense for which society needs to be protected, and it looks like
the parents are capable of controlling the child, we would look to a less
restrictive form of intervention. Maybe an informal adjustment with
community service, but with an effort to try to keep the kid in the home
with the family.