NCJ Number
127923
Journal
Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 28 Issue: 1 Dated: (February 1991) Pages: 75-100
Date Published
1991
Length
26 pages
Annotation
This documents examines gender bias in the handling of seriously delinquent youths at three stages of the juvenile justice system: arrest, adjudication, and disposition.
Abstract
The sample included 391 black and white 14- to 17-year old boys and girls, all heavily involved in crime when they were interviewed on the street during the period 1985 to 1987 in Miami for a study of drug/crime relationships. Findings indicate that gender and race differences exist in juvenile justice handling of seriously crime involved youths, even when controlling for criminal behavior level, seriousness of offense type, and juvenile record. However, apparent reasons for differential outcomes by gender and race are complex and vary with the stage of processing. The arrest rate displayed the most obvious gender and race differences. At the adjudication stage, the only clear gender difference is that prostitution is more likely than other offenses to result in adjudication. Both gender and race differences appeared again at the disposition stage. 4 tables and 39 references (Author abstract modified)