ABSTRACTDISPROPORTIONATE MINORITY CONTACT IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM:AN INVESTIGATION OF RACIAL DISPARITY IN PROGRAM REFERRAL AT DISPOSITIONByNordia A. CampbellDisproportionate minority contact (DMC) has plagued the juvenile justice system since its inception. Historically, racial minority youth have also received harsher punishments at the disposition stage when compared to White youth (Moore & Padavic, 2010). Furthermore, research has indicated that these disparities exist despite the use of risk assessment tools, which are theoretically used to reduce human biases in case management decisions. Therefore, the current study aims to investigate the role of race in a particular dispositional decision–program referral–after taking risk assessment into account. Using a sample of juvenile offenders (N = 2,739) from a midsized Midwestern county, the study used the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) to determine if risk assessment variables and race were predictors of program referral. Specifically, the study examined whether risk score and cluster type predicted program referral, and if race moderated the relationships found. This study adds to the literature, as there is a lack of previous research investigating program referral as a point of racial disparity in the juvenile justice system. Results indicated that race predicts program referral, such that minority youth are more likely to be programmed than their White counterparts, even after controlling for risk cluster type. Future directions for research on DMC, as well as practical implications for juvenile court officials are discussed.
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