The Disproportionate Overrepresentation of Minority Youth in ...

Chapter Eleven
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Two research projects have been conducted over the last three years for the purpose of
assessing why minority youth are disproportionately overrepresented in secure facilities
in the state of Iowa. To address this issue, research was conducted in two phases. Phase
One of the research examined case files in the juvenile court offices of Black Hawk,
Woodbury, Polk, and Scott counties. Although legal variables (e.g., severity of the
offense) were most often the most significant predictors of case outcome, race/ethnic
effects and gender effects were observed at a number of the stages in each of the four
counties. The race/ethnicity effect occurs typically at intake and petition, while the
gender effect is present at the stage of judicial disposition. Minorities were also more
likely than whites to receive an outcome involving placement in the state training school.
This finding was present even after controlling for relevant legal and extralegal factors.
Phase Two of the research was conducted to determine what factors may account
for the above findings. Juvenile court personnel and delinquent youth in each of the four
counties were interviewed to capture their views on a number of issues revolving around
discrimination and fairness, in general. More specific, decision makers were asked for
their feelings and opinions on a variety of topics: the role of the juvenile court,
explanations of delinquency, race—specific differences in behavior, police relations,
views of the findings from Phase One of the study, and suggestions reducing the
disproportionate overrepresentation of minority youth in secure facilities. Youth were
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