Centering Black Girls in Juvenile Justice Reform: Bridging Research, Policy, and Practice

Black girls are disproportionately impacted by punitive systems, with pathways into the juvenile justice system shaped by intersecting forces of racism, sexism, and structural neglect. Although awareness of these disparities is growing, the lived experiences of Black girls remain marginalized in both research and reform efforts. This roundtable brings together interdisciplinary scholars and practitioners to explore how social work research can serve as a tool of resistance: uncovering systemic drivers of injustice and advancing equity-centered reforms that center the voices and needs of Black girls. Panelists will share work at the intersection of race, gender, and justice involvement, grounded in critical frameworks and community-engaged approaches. Presentations will highlight mixed-method, qualitative, and participatory research examining issues such as school pushout, child welfare involvement, trauma exposure, and other factors contributing to the criminalization of Black girls. Panelists will also reflect on how their work challenges dominant narratives about justice-involved youth and reimagines system responses through a racial and gender equity lens. In doing so, they will examine the translational role of social work researchers: the process of moving research into action by shaping policy, informing practice, and fostering system-level change. The discussion will include examples of researcher-practitioner collaborations and efforts to embed research findings into programmatic and policy reform, while also naming the political and institutional barriers to advancing liberatory change. Rather than traditional presentations, this roundtable will emphasize dynamic dialogue among panelists and active engagement with the audience to collectively explore both the challenges and possibilities of transforming juvenile justice for Black girls. Panelists include scholars and practitioners working at local and national levels and at various stages of their careers, from doctoral students and early-career researchers to senior faculty and seasoned field professionals. This range of perspectives offers a multidimensional and practice-informed view of reform grounded in academic insight and frontline realities. This session aligns with SSWR's commitment to advancing equity, justice, and the public impact of social work science by highlighting research that is not only rigorous, but reparative. It will be of particular interest to researchers, practitioners, and policymakers seeking to advance intersectional, anti-racist, and gender-responsive approaches to juvenile justice. Attendees will gain insight into designing and disseminating research that informs meaningful systems change and will leave with concrete strategies for bridging the persistent gap between research and reform for justice-involved Black girls.