The Disproportionate Overrepresentation of Minority Youth in ...

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referred on to petition. The responses to this finding varied. Some questioned the
accuracy of the findings, while others suggested that an admission of guilt and the
youths’ overall functioning in the community and in the system may account for the race
difference in outcomes. For example, youth and their family may not show for their
appointments. The following quotes highlight these perceptions.
I don’t know why that would happen.
I would like to see the statistics and all of the variables that was
considered. I would have to look at it because on an individual basis I
can’t see that happening. I can’t see that the intake officer would look at
the kid and say that if you are black you are going to be more trouble for
us. Because what we base our decisions on are certain guidelines and we
all work within them.
…I wouldn’t think that it would be a legitimate decision to go further into
the court unless the child just came in and just adamantly denied the
offenses. Then, there would be a more severe reaction by the court.
One thing that might contribute to that is, you have a white kid and black
kid with three burglaries, you place them both into one of these white
group homes or white residential treatment facilities. The white kid might
do a little better than the black kid because of how the situation is set up so
the white kid goes home. The black kid doesn’t do well in the facility and
has to move on in the system and the next place is usually being held in
detention until you get to the state training school.. .There could be other
things, if you have a kid come in with two offenses we might give an
informal adjustment agreement at intake, however, you need to have some
level of trust for the system in order to just admit to the charges. Black
families don’t trust the system and then they have to go to court, so then
they are further into the system than the white kid who just agreed with
things.