Abstract
Disproportionate minority contact is an important issue in contemporary juvenile justice. Few studies have directly examined
the link between race and judicial decision to incarceration. Using official data from Pennsylvania (n = 41,561), this study added to this literature in two ways. This study used propensity score matching to obtain a purer estimate
of the influence race has on the decision to petition a case to juvenile court. The results indicated that prosecutors use
perceptual shorthand in making this decision that hinges on race. Specifically, blacks were more 1.28 times more likely than
whites to have their case petitioned to juvenile court.
the link between race and judicial decision to incarceration. Using official data from Pennsylvania (n = 41,561), this study added to this literature in two ways. This study used propensity score matching to obtain a purer estimate
of the influence race has on the decision to petition a case to juvenile court. The results indicated that prosecutors use
perceptual shorthand in making this decision that hinges on race. Specifically, blacks were more 1.28 times more likely than
whites to have their case petitioned to juvenile court.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-12
- DOI 10.1007/s12103-012-9162-6
- Authors
- George E. Higgins, Department of Justice Administration, University of Louisville, 2301 South Third Street 208 Brigman Hall, Louisville, KY, USA
- Melissa L. Ricketts, Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, PA, USA
- James D. Griffith, Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, PA, USA
- Stephanie A. Jirard, Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, PA, USA
- Journal American Journal of Criminal Justice
- Online ISSN 1936-1351
- Print ISSN 1066-2316