Examining Disparities in the Context of Risk Assessment

• In Event: Juvenile Justice: Perspectives From Initial Contact to Incarceration

Abstract

Issues of gender, race, and socioeconomic disparities are embedded in the juvenile justice system. Risk assessment is implemented in juvenile jurisdictions across North America with the purpose of predicting future recidivism risk and guiding case management. Theoretically, risk assessment can be used to mitigate issues associated with the demographic characteristics of juvenile offenders if risk assessment is employed as a part of a standardized decision-making process. Unfortunately, the literature is lacking studies that examine whether risk assessment indeed serves as a technique to equalize disparities. Topics on gender, race, and socioeconomic disparities in assessment, intervention, and outcomes will be discussed.

Authors

• Ashlee Barnes, Michigan State University

• Nordia Campbell, Michigan State University

• Eyitayo Onifade, Florida State University

• Valerie Rose Anderson, Michigan State University

• Christina Campbell, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

• Jodi Peterson, Grand Valley State University

• William S. Davidson, Michigan State University