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Race, neighborhood disadvantage, and antisocial behavior among female juvenile offenders
Author(s) -
Chauhan Preeti,
Reppucci N. Dickon,
Burnette Mandi,
Reiner Scott
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.585
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1520-6629
pISSN - 0090-4392
DOI - 10.1002/jcop.20377
Subject(s) - disadvantage , juvenile , psychology , juvenile delinquency , race (biology) , differential association , criminal justice , differential treatment , criminology , differential effects , developmental psychology , sociology , political science , medicine , gender studies , genetics , international trade , law , business , biology
The current study evaluated the significance of two theoretical positions, differential involvement and differential selection, that may lead to disproportionate minority contact among female juvenile offenders. Using a longitudinal, multimethod research design, reoffending was assessed prospectively using self‐report data and official records of offending; neighborhood disadvantage was assessed using census level data. Results supported the differential selection hypothesis and found that Black girls were significantly more likely to get rearrested, particularly for nonviolent crimes, but both Black and White girls self‐reported similar levels of antisocial behavior. After accounting for neighborhood disadvantage, race was not significantly associated with nonviolent rearrest. The results highlight the important role of neighborhoods in explaining the discrepant representation of Black girls within the juvenile and criminal justice systems. They further suggest that neighborhoods might be a key conduit by which minorities are differentially “selected” into the justice system. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.