New Study Finds That Skin Color Influences Assumptions Regarding Juvenile Justice

In 2009, about one in 17 youths was arrested, a total of 1.9 million, according to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Protection. Of that total, about one in 20 was white.  One in eight was black. While the reasons for this statistical divergence are up for debate, one fact is apparent: a disproportionate ratio of black youth are tried and held in the criminal justice system. 
According to a recently published study by Stanford psychologists, people tend to be more likely to approve of harsher sentences for black juveniles than white offenders. A group of around 650 (white) test subjects were found to be more likely to say that all juveniles should be treated as adults and given life without parole if the offender described was black.
Researchers found that this bias was not necessarily based on any preexisting racial bias or political affiliation among participants, suggesting black juveniles tend to be viewed as more responsible for their crimes than whites, regardless of age. Researchers found that simply bringing to mind a black (vs. white) juvenile offender led participants to view juveniles in general as significantly more similar to adults in their inherent culpability and to express more support for severe sentencing.

These results highlight the current shortcomings of protections for juveniles when race is involved, and contain broad implications for how juveniles are seen and treated in a predominantly white (from lawyers to jurists to jurors) criminal justice system. The report will serve as the foundation for a deeper exploration of and discourse entry point regarding the juvenile justice system.

To view or download this study, please visit: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0036680
 

 
Brooke Preston is an Acting Digital Account Executive at Prichard Communications, where she creates strategies and content for a number of clients including Reclaiming Futures. Brooke is a seasoned writer, editor and content consultant whose background is centered in journalism, nonprofit communications and brand development counsel. Brooke received a B.S.S. in Music and Media Studies from Ohio University.