Race and gender can interact in important ways in the juvenile justice system, according to a September 2012 article published in the UCLA Law Review. The article provides a brief history of the juvenile court, reviews studies that explore the disparities that exist within the juvenile justice system and explores methods to better serve girls of color.
Studies show that the number of girls entering the juvenile justice system is on the rise and girls of color are disproportionately represented in this group. According to the article, this may be because the current juvenile justice system gives authorities almost full discretion in their treatment. They can choose to see a girl as someone with social troubles influenced by her background or as a delinquent who is responsible for her actions.
The article emphasizes four key people who control the outcome of a juvenile’s journey through the system: the arresting police officer, the probation officer, the prosecutor who presses charges and the judge who determines her sentence. The roles of these actors in a girl’s life can be used for good, according to the article, with the girl’s gender and race taken into consideration to promote her rehabilitation. The article highlights several strategies to better serve girls. Major recommendations include: that staff training be provided for the unique needs of girls of color, that detention centers be equipped for the needs of girls and that community based programming be developed based on their needs for treatment.