The Impacts of Trauma, Community Violence and Racism on Delinquency Among African American, Multiracial and White Detained Youth: Investigating within and Between Group Experiences

Background: Racial and ethnic inequalities in the juvenile justice system (JJS) have been consistently reported (Armstrong & Rodriguez, 2005; Bishop, 2005; Bishop & Frazier, 1996; Bridges & Steen, 1998). Although federal efforts mandate states to investigate the extent and reasons contributing to disparities in the JJS – inequalities remain persistent.

Methods: Using secondary survey data collected from three facilities in a single state for detained male youth in the JJS, this convenience sample included African American (n=189) Multiracial (n=162)  and White youth (n=88) between 13 and 22 years of age.  Data were originally collected for Burton, Miller and Shill (2002) and were also used for Kang and Burton (2014).  Self-report measures included the Self-Reported Delinquency Scale, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Trauma Symptom Checklist, Mattering to Other’s Questionnaire, and specifically for this study, the Spencer Discrimination Scale and 15 questions regarding the frequency of community violence exposure.  

Informed by Critical Race Theory, General Strain Theory, and Race-Based Traumatic Stress Theory, in this study I investigated prevalence rates for known risk factors of delinquency by racial/ethnic group to determine if potential differences existed across groups. Hierarchical regression equations were constructed for youth by racial/ethnic group to allow for within and between group differences for correlates of delinquency.  Experiences of racism were included as a stressor and potential correlate of delinquency for youth of color in this study.  Trauma symptoms were evaluated as a potential mediator of the relationship between racism and delinquency.

Results: Experiences of childhood abuse and neglect were generally similar across racial/ethnic groups.  Multiracial youth had significantly higher rates of community violence exposure than White youth.  Youth of color also had high rates of experiences of racism with African American youth having significantly higher rates than Multiracial youth. Correlates  of delinquency in the final models varied across racial/ethnic groups with African American youth having the highest number of significant variables (age, physical abuse, community violence and racism) followed by Multiracial youth (trauma symptoms and community violence) and White youth (community violence).  Community violence was the strongest predictor of delinquency for all youth.  

For African American youth, racism was a significant predictor of delinquency and in a mediation analysis, trauma symptoms explained a significant portion of the relationship between racism and delinquency.  This was not the case for Multiracial youth. 

Implications: In this sample, youth of color were faced with more risk factors for delinquency than White youth - a potential explanation for some of the disparities in the system.  Clinical implications include the necessity of screening and treating youth in the community and particularly in the JJS for community violence exposure as well as potential trauma from experiences of racism.  Additionally, allowing for within and between group variation in correlates of delinquency demonstrated differences by racial/ethnic group that may be important to consider in future research.