Racial and Ethnic Disparity in the Juvenile Justice System

In this research brief, researchers explore racial and ethnic disparities within the Illinois juvenile justice system.

A disproportionality index was created with data collected on five critical system decision points: arrest, diversion, detention, secure confinement, and transfer to adult court.

Researchers found Black youth were overrepresented at all decision points. Latinx youth also were overrepresented at multiple points.

Several factors contribute to this overrepresentation, including practitioner discretion, policies, racial biases, and lowered access to diversion and other alternatives.

Read Racial and Ethnic Disparity in the Illinois Juvenile Justice System: A Research Brief