A Police Stop is More than Just a Stop: Understanding Police Stops’ Impact on Adolescent Well-being

• In Event: The Role of the Juvenile Justice System in Youth Outcomes

Abstract

Youth with greater positive functioning are better equipped to respond to life’s adversities, and poor functioning may expose youth to numerous disadvantages. The impact of police encounters on youths’ well-being is poorly understood, and emerging research suggests that youth of color and girls may experience unique risks in these contexts. Using data from 3,004 Black, Latinx, and White adolescents, this study examined the relationship between police stops and adolescent well-being. Linear regression analyses revealed that experiencing police stops was significantly associated with decreased perseverance, optimism, happiness, and optimism, and increased engagement; these relationships were moderated by race-ethnicity and sex. Specifically, police stops were associated with decreased Happiness for White and Latino boys, and for White, Black, and Latina girls. Stops were associated with decreased Optimism for Latino boys and for White, Black, and Latina girls. Stops were also associated with decreased Connectedness for Latino boys and Black girls. Lastly, police stops were associated with increased Engagement for Black boys and Black girls. These findings suggest police stops may be an important factor in understanding youths’ well-being and may have differential impacts when considering race-ethnicity and sex. Better understanding these relationships can inform potential policy and practice recommendations for police-youth interactions.

Author

• Keisha April, Rutgers University - Newark