Who Should Go Home From Detention? The Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Probation Officers’ Recommendations to the Court

Abstract

Racial and ethnic disparities permeate juvenile justice outcomes. Yet, little is known about the decision-making processes that inform these outcomes, including the often-hidden recommendations probation officers make to the court regarding youth confinement. Using data from a juvenile court in a southwest city, we examine how mental health concerns, alleged gang affiliation, family challenges, and perceived dangerousness inform probation officers’ recommendations to the court and how these vary by youths’ race and ethnicity. We find that youth with these factors are more likely to be recommended for detention/commitment and residential treatment than be recommended for release to the home. Findings also show that the effect of these factors vary across youths’ race and ethnicity. The implications for policy and practice are discussed.