Disproportionate Minority Contact: The Missing Perspectives of Minority Youth

Background and Purpose: In response to the overrepresentation of minority youth in the juvenile justice system, the 1988 Juvenile Justice Delinquency Act required states to acknowledge and make efforts to reduce racial disparities. This overrepresentation was later termed “disproportionate minority contact” (DMC). Although thirty years have passed since the federal government’s mandate, DMC continues to pervade all points of contact in the juvenile justice system. In an effort to address DMC, research has become saturated with quantitative studies, with a notable lack of focus on qualitative methods. Additionally, existing qualitative studies have failed to capture the perspectives of individuals most impacted by DMC—minority youth themselves. The present study aimed to build on existing studies investigating the causes of and potential solutions for addressing or eliminating DMC by examining the experiences and perceptions of youth who self-identify as racial or ethnic minorities.

Methods: Maximum variation sampling, a form of purposeful sampling, was used for recruitment. Because we sought to explore perspectives among self-identified minority based on their individual race consciousness, maximum variation sampling ultimately allowed for multiple focus groups to be conducted with participants who identified with specific groups. Methods of inquiry included focus groups and one-on-one semi-structured interviews. Participants were given the option to participate in focus groups, one-on-one interviews, or both. A total of 27 participants between the ages of 14 and 25 were recruited from community-based organizations. Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six phase approach to thematic analysis was used to analyze data from five focus groups and 15 one-on-one interviews.

Results: Three primary themes emerged from the data regarding participant perceptions of the causes of DMC: (1) individual differences among juveniles committing criminal offenses and the role of internalized oppression; (2) the impact of external influences, including issues of power, historic oppression, social norms, economic norms, and racialization; and (3) the vicious cycle that develops between individuals’ self-perceptions and external influences. Relatedly, participant responses on potential solutions revealed the need to address DMC from an ecological perspective—namely, the need for micro, mezzo, and macro-level interventions.

Conclusions and Implications: Although the data both converged and diverged from current theories on the causes of and potential solutions for DMC, of particular note is how participant narratives synthesized and transcended those theories—especially their recognition that one cause or theory is insufficient to explain the root of DMC, let alone create interventions to address or eliminate the problem. DMC-reduction initiatives should strive to understand of the causes and solutions of DMC from a framework that captures the interconnectedness of multiple systems. DMC is important for social workers to acknowledge and understand given their role in providing direct services to minority youth in school, community, and juvenile justice settings. Relatedly, these findings have practice implications for other professionals working with minority youth, including teachers, school administrators, law enforcement agents, probation officers, and judges. Study findings may guide policy makers in their decision-making processes, especially as it relates to funding DMC-reduction initiatives at a federal level.