Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Criminal Justice

Advisor

Ernesto Escobedo

Abstract

The existence of disproportionate minority contact (DMC) is a serious problem throughout the juvenile justice systems in every state in the United States. The DMC phenomenon is well documented in the 159 counties in the State of Georgia juvenile justice system. Although numerous researchers have investigated the role of county-level variables in the creation of these racial disparities, these researchers have not discovered any explanations for differences in outcomes from one county to another county within the same state based on the diversity of the county population or police departments in each county. The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the effect of the racial composition (Black and White) or diversity of the county population and county’s police departments at the referral stage of the juvenile justice process in each of the 159 counties in the State of Georgia. DMC existed in 95 counties. Disproportionate White Contact (DWC) was found in three counties and parity indicating no significant differences in referrals between the Black and White youth in 17 counties. The Kendall’s tau-b correlation statistical procedure was used and found that that county diversity was positive and significantly correlated to DMC (τb = 0.119, p ≤ 0.05). Counties with the highest population of Black youth and the highest police department diversity had the highest Relative Rate Index (RRIs) indicating DMC. There was no significant correlation between the diversity of police departments and DMC. Findings may be used by police administration for positive social change through police training programs.

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