An evaluation of the juvenile detention alternative initiative in Clark County, Washington

Molly Renae Shotwell

In previous decades, juvenile justice utilized punitive policies that have no significant effect on reducing juvenile crime. However, that paradigm is beginning to collapse and a new paradigm, one that stresses the importance of community based treatments, has emerged. The Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative (JDAI) is a step in a direction to lower the use of incarceration among juvenile offenders while reducing racial and ethnic disparities. This research study aimed to identify whether the implementation of JDAI in Clark County is reducing racial and ethnic disparities among youth who are adjudicated. Data used in this study were secondary aggregate level data from Clark County's juvenile court as well as data obtained from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction for Washington State ESD112 between 2010 and 2016. Comparisons of the data will be made to answer whether racial and ethnic disparities remain present with the adoption of JDAI. The first time frame, Pre-JDAI, includes 3,061 detention admissions between October 2010 and October 2013. The second time frame, Post-JDAI, includes 2,379 detention admissions between October of 2013 and March of 2016. The results research showed the number of detention admissions in every racial and ethnic category decreased with the implementation of JDAI from 3,061 between October 2010- October 2013 to 2,379 between October 2013-March 2016; however, racial and ethnic disparities remained present. American Indian/Alaskan Native juveniles, as well as Blacks, were disproportionately overrepresented at Clark County's juvenile court while Whites and Hispanics were significantly underrepresented. Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander juveniles were proportionately represented in detention admissions when compared to the number of Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander youth within the ESD 112 school district. Racial and ethnic disparities remain a present and very complex issue for juvenile justice systems across the United States. The overrepresentation of minority juveniles prompts discussions and questions regarding equal treatment by law enforcement, probation officers, juvenile courts, judges, and other individuals within juvenile justice systems. Washington and other states' focus on the issue of racial and ethnic disparities, along with appropriate research and available resources can strengthen efforts to reduce disproportionality in juvenile justice systems.

An evaluation of the juvenile detention alternative initiative in Clark County, Washington

Files and links (1)

Abstract

Metrics

Details