ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a discussion of the major research on the impact of concentrated disadvantage on juvenile court outcomes. The existing literature establishes a relationship between structural or concentrated disadvantage and juvenile justice processing, and many indicate interactions with race. In analyzing the impact of disadvantage measures on juvenile court referrals, results of ordinary least squares regression analyses indicated that individual socioeconomic status has a significant negative impact on court referrals for both males and females. Even using one or two indicators of concentrated disadvantage indicates its impact on juvenile court decision-making. Research explains that concentrated disadvantage affects juvenile court outcomes by exacerbating other disparities. Research generally indicates that concentrated disadvantage and race are related to juvenile court outcomes as well as subsequent detention periods. The interaction of the unemployment rate and poverty level with race/ethnicity impacts the likelihood of detention.
