Minority Confinement in the Juvenile Justice System (Sample Annotation)

Drakeford, W., & Staples, J. M. (2006). Minority confinement in the juvenile justice system: Legal, social, and racial factors. Teaching Exceptional Children, 39(1), 52–58. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.libproxy2.usc.edu/docview/201184291?accountid=14749

In the article, Drakeford and Staples examine the overrepresentation of minority youth within the juvenile justice system. Data shows that the number of African American youth with emotional and behavioral disorders is 1.6 times as great as great as their White counterparts. African American offenders are more likely to recommended for formal processing while white offenders are more likely to be referred to diversionary programs. Based on these findings, the authors infer that minority juvenile offenders are regarded less suitable for rehabilitative treatment, and attitudes from gatekeepers toward minority youth continue to prevent them from accessing rehabilitative services. As a result, minority youth become less hopeful that they can turn their lives around, thus increases the likelihood that they will be come repeat offenders and involves in more serious crimes. This article supports my argument that race is one factor that youth gets disproportionately charged with crimes.