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Anticipatory injustice among adolescents: age and racial/ethnic differences in perceived unfairness of the justice system
Author(s) -
Woolard Jennifer L.,
Harvell, M.P.P. Samantha,
Graham, Ph.D. Sandra
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
behavioral sciences and the law
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.649
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1099-0798
pISSN - 0735-3936
DOI - 10.1002/bsl.805
Subject(s) - injustice , ethnic group , economic justice , psychology , poison control , human factors and ergonomics , suicide prevention , injury prevention , social psychology , medical emergency , medicine , sociology , political science , law , anthropology
The present study examines age differences in anticipatory injustice, or the expectation of unfair or discriminatory treatment in the legal system. 1,393 adolescents and young adults from the community or from detention centers and jails were interviewed regarding demographic and justice system experience, intelligence, expectations about fair treatment, and legal decisions. African Americans and Latinos and those with more system experience expected greater injustice across multiple legal contexts. Anticipatory injustice increased with age among African Americans and those with the most system experience. It also predicted choices about police interrogation, attorney consultation, and plea agreements. Anticipations of injustice during adolescence may affect future interactions with court officials as well as more general constructs of legal socialization. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.