Disproportionate Minority Contact among Hispanic/Latino Youth in a Southwestern State

• In Event: Racial and Ethnic Variation in Disproportionate Minority Contact

Abstract

Much of the research on disproportionate minority contact (DMC) has focused on Black juveniles, while Hispanic/Latino juveniles have not received as much attention. For this project we conducted a rigorous secondary analysis of data from juvenile justice agencies to provide an in-depth, culturally-competent examination of DMC as it relates to Hispanic/Latino youth so that the results could inform practice and policy to advance the juvenile justice field. Through this study researchers at the American Institutes for Research (AIR) have built a relationship with juvenile justice agencies in a Southwestern state that has allowed us to examine the trajectory of Hispanic youth across the juvenile justice continuum there. The examination focused on 5 counties who have been actively engaged in addressing DMC. We made comparisons between DMC levels prior to and following implementation of their plan to address DMC. Three sets of research questions guided our analysis. The first set of questions focused on whether there are disparities at each decision point. The second set explored factors that may help detect and explain patterns of observed disproportionality. The third set examined the extent of the juvenile justice system response at different decision points with regard to the processing of Hispanic/Latino youth.

Authors

• Roger Jarjoura, American Institutes for Research

• Konrad Avery Haight, American Institutes for Research