Disproportionality in the diagnosis of deep-end juvenile justice youth: Are we missing minority trauma?

• In Event: Adverse Childhood Experiences: Mental Health, Offense Seriousness and Violence among Juvenile Offenders

Abstract

The OJJDP Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice has recently recommended research examining whether disproportionality exists in the diagnoses of children, leading to trauma symptoms being missed in favor of a behavioral disorder diagnoses more associated with delinquency. We test whether behavioral disorder diagnoses associated with delinquency, such as conduct disorder, are more prevalent for minority youth placed in residential programs. We control for relevant criminal history and traumatic exposures in our examination. Specifically, we use the ACE score as a measure of childhood traumatic exposures. Results lead to policy implications regarding the diagnosis of minority youth placed in juvenile justice residential programs.

Authors

• Michael T. Baglivio, G4S Youth Services, LLC

• Kevin T. Wolff, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

• Alex R. Piquero, University of Texas at Dallas

• Mark A. Greenwald, Florida State University

• Nathan Epps, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice

• Kathy Jackowski, G4S Youth Services, LLC