Investigating Racial Disparity Among Non-committed Juveniles Offenders Using Different Recidivism Time Periods

• In Event: Exploring Racial Disparities in Juvenile Justice Processing

Abstract

In many states, juvenile justice reforms have been implemented that increase the use of community-based services for justice-involved youth. In the state of Connecticut, these changes include limiting the reasons that a youth can be committed, increasing the availability of diversionary and probationary services, and raising the age that a juvenile falls under the jurisdiction of juvenile court from 16 to 18 years of age. The evolving legislative policies over the past several years have potentially impacted disproportionate minority contact for Connecticut’s juveniles receiving community-based services. This study utilizes data from several Connecticut juvenile justice agencies over a ten-year period (2005-2015) to analyze racial disparities in arrests and reconvictions. Additionally, the researchers examine whether racial disparity changes as the follow-up period of recidivism is examined over 6 months, 12 months, 18 month, and 24 months.

Authors

• Sarah J. Giarrusso, University of New Haven

• Danielle Cooper, University of New Haven

• Kendell Coker, University of New Haven