The Disproportionate Overrepresentation of Minority Youth in ...

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Blacks and Detention
The first finding discovered in Polk county was that detention is an important
factor in determining case outcome. In preliminary analyses, black youth were found to
be detained more often in contrast to white youth, after controlling for legal and
extralegal variables. Officers indicated that detention was used for those believed to be a
poor probation risk, who have committed more serious crimes, or have responded badly
in other situations.
When asked why they thought blacks were more likely to be detained, the
decision makers pointed to the stability of the homes and the support of families.
“Sometimes there is no one who wants to come down and get them.” Officers also
believed there seems to be less supervision of black children by their parents.
Black families sometimes reach a point where there is so much
disorganization and their resources are so restricted that their chances of
being able to control a child at home are minimal and I think that is why
many of them remain in detention.
I think that their homes are seen as less stable on the whole. Most white
families come in and are very supportive of their youth, they want them
home at all costs and will promise you anything. I think that sometimes
the perception is that in the single parent black family there will be less
supervision and some of these moms come in and say that they can’t
control them and if they tell us this then we don’t want to send the youth
back there.
Maybe the white parents took more ownership in supervising their kid
until the hearing than what the black people do.