The Disproportionate Overrepresentation of Minority Youth in ...

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objective of this approach was to determine how decision makers’ views on a variety of
issues impact decision making. The purpose in doing this was to place the observed race
and gender differences within the context of this larger view of decision making. The end
result was anticipated to reflect a better understanding of the role legal and extralegal
factors may have on juvenile justice decision making which may or may not include
subtle forms of racism or bias.
In this Chapter, the rationale for the second phase of the study is discussed. The
research method for Phase Two is also outlined. A discussion on the organization of the
report comprises the final section of the Chapter.
Rationale for Phase Two of the Study
A limitation of the research design of the first phase of the study was the inability
to assess what may account for the observed findings. The second phase of the research
incorporated interviews in an attempt to identify both legal and extralegal factors that
may provide a better understanding of juvenile justice decision making and the influence
of race in each of the four counties.
It is possible that legal and extralegal factors not controlled for in the analysis in
Phase One could account for the race and gender findings. That is, intricate factors that
might have been present in the situation that may have impacted decision making may
have not been recorded or captured. For example, the variable family structure provides
information