Limited Disproportionate Minority Contact Discourse may Explain Limited Progress in Reducing Minority Over-representation in the US Juvenile Justice System

Abstract

This article provides a review of the development of the US federal government disproportionate minority contact (DMC) mandate for the juvenile justice system. Research assessing the reduction of disproportionate minority contact and demonstrating an overall lack of progress is examined. The connection between the lack of progress in reducing disproportionate minority contact and the lack of focus on the front end of the system is established. The impact on the juvenile justice system and, more importantly, on minority youth are discussed and recommendations in terms of expanding the discourse, policy and practice to more fully include police are made. Finally, the US experience and limitations are put into a global perspective, underscoring commonality across nations in addressing race, ethnic and age discrimination among police.

What do we do with those kids? A critical review of current responses to juvenile delinquency and an alternative

“…"Disproportionate minority contact" describes this phenomenon and Congress has mandated that states must take steps to reduce it (Hsai, Bridges, & McHale, 2004). Yet research has focused on incarceration rates rather on alternatives (Dillard, 2013).…”

Moving Beyond the Punitive Legacy: Taking Stock of Persistent Problems in Juvenile Justice

“…Take the problem labeled 'DMC', or 'disproportionate minority contact' in the US (Dillard, 2013). DMC is a euphemistic term that refers to serious racial inequality at all levels of the juvenile justice system, but particularly on the most serious and punitive side.…”

Police endorsement of color‐blind racial beliefs and propensity to interact with youth of color

“…An officer's decision‐making can be influenced by additional situational factors, such as ambiguity about whether an offense is occurring or the actions and responses of the youth who is stopped. When decision‐making is not clear‐cut, police may use their value systems and perceptions of minority youth to guide their interpretations and responses to youths' behavior (Dillard, ). It has been proposed that officers consider criminal conduct by juveniles to be qualitatively different from those same behaviors committed by adults, and they tend to engage in a different set of responses when dealing with juveniles (Brown et al, ).…”

“…Low‐level offenses, like nuisance and public order crimes, comprise more than 40% of all juvenile arrests, whereas violent offenses account for only about 5% of arrests. Nevertheless, more than 85% of published research on DMC focuses on violent offenses (Dillard, ). Although the greatest disproportionality in youth arrest rates is for violent offenses (i.e., arrests are 2.8 times more likely for minority youth, as a whole, and 3.6 times more likely for Black youth), minority youth are still more than 1.5 times more likely to be arrested for nuisance and public order crimes than are White youth (Dillard, ).…”

“…Nevertheless, more than 85% of published research on DMC focuses on violent offenses (Dillard, ). Although the greatest disproportionality in youth arrest rates is for violent offenses (i.e., arrests are 2.8 times more likely for minority youth, as a whole, and 3.6 times more likely for Black youth), minority youth are still more than 1.5 times more likely to be arrested for nuisance and public order crimes than are White youth (Dillard, ). In a study examining racial and ethnic disparities in juvenile arrests, officers were more likely to arrest youth for serious delinquent offenses, regardless of the suspect's race; when offenses were less serious (e.g., alcohol use, drug use, and vandalism), officers were more likely to arrest minority youth (Tapia, ).…”