Racial differences in legal socialization models across adolescence and emerging adulthood.

Abstract

Objective: White and non-White adolescents report different experiences in the legal system. This disparity impacts their evaluations of, and attitudes toward, legal authorities such that non-White and older adolescents tend to perceive the legal system more negatively. Yet, many researchers assume that the process of legal socialization, which involves internalizing norms and information about the law and the legal system, is universal for all ages and races. Hypotheses: We hypothesized that legal socialization models would change over the course of adolescent development and would differ by race. Method: We used data from two longitudinal studies to examine racial differences in the integrated legal socialization model in early, middle, and late adolescence. Study 1 included 140 young adolescents (59% White, 41% non-White), and Study 2 included 296 midadolescents (82% White, 18% non-White) followed into late adolescence/emerging adulthood. Results: Study 1 identified differences in the integrated legal socialization model for young White and non-White adolescents. Normative status predicted rule-violating behavior for White participants, whereas no predictors or mediators related to rule-violating behavior for non-White participants. In Study 2, legal and moral reasoning during midadolescence became relevant in the model for both groups. Enforcement status predicted rule-violating behavior for non-White youth, whereas normative status continued to predict rule-violating behavior for White youth. In late adolescence/emerging adulthood, differences in the model shifted toward the relation between reasoning and legal attitudes. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that legal socialization is a developmental process occurring and changing throughout adolescence and that this developmental process differs for White and non-White youth. Public Significance StatementThe findings of this study indicate that legal socialization may not be a "one-size-fits-all" process across youth of different racial backgrounds. It is important that researchers explore the different cognitive processes that occur in adolescence, in addition to youths' differing experiences with the law, to better understand legal socialization for youth of color. Practitioners and policy makers should also take a tailored and more sensitive approach when implementing delinquency-reduction techniques and programs for youth of different racial backgrounds.

Racial justice in psycholegal research and forensic psychology practice: Current advances and a framework for future progress.

“…Research by Jackson et al (2023) and Cole et al (2023) expands current models of legal attitudes in meaningful ways. Jackson et al test an expanded model of procedural justice theory that, in addition to the established factors, includes beliefs about structural racism.…”

“…This approach fails to decenter the beliefs, experiences, and behavioral norms of the majority culture in research and forensic-clinical work. In this issue, for example, Cole et al (2023) and Kavanaugh et al (2023) discuss the importance of vicarious and direct interactions with the police for understanding how BIPOC individuals make decisions about behaviors, such as rule violations and waiving Miranda rights. Culturally uninformed work also can harm relationships with BIPOC communities who may view the development and implementation of clinical and forensic initiatives as occurring without their input, that is, as something done "to them" rather than "with them."…”