NCJ Number
193841
Journal
Juvenile and Family Court Journal Volume: 53 Issue: 1 Dated: Winter 2002 Pages: 47-58
Date Published
2002
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study collected data in 2000 regarding 642 youths who were on probation in one northeastern county to examine the relationship between race and pretrial detention.
Abstract
The independent variables included age, sex, address, race, current offense, prior offense, and previous dispositions. The offense categories included misdemeanors; violent misdemeanors; felonies; violent felonies; and, for the current offense, probation violations. Results revealed that factors that increased the chance of pretrial detention included probation violations, prior misdemeanors, prior residential placements, prior community interventions, age, sex, urban address, felonies, prior violent misdemeanors, and prior violent felonies. A violation of probation was the most significant variable influencing juvenile detention. Race was a significant factor only in the absence of the variable of address; urban youths were more likely than others to be detained. This finding resulted in minority overrepresentation in detention, because most of the minority population lived in the urban area. The analysis concluded that the most important factors influencing detention were probation violations, prior misdemeanors, prior interventions, age, sex, address, felonies, and prior record, but that the null hypothesis that minorities are not significantly more likely to be detained cannot be rejected. Race was not a significant variable for detention among these participants, but minorities may still be overrepresented in detention for other reasons. Future research should examine police discretion and courtroom variables of detention hearings. Tables and 24 references