family factors related to the disproportional rates of african american boys in the juvenile justice...

Family Factors Related to the Disproportional Rates of African American Boys in the Juvenile

Justice System:Research Findings and Policy

Implications

Jelani MandaraNorthwestern University

Background African American boys are

disproportionately represented in the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Systems.

Several macro and micro social factors underlie these trends.

Fathers-absence and parenting practices may account for much of the disparities.

Previous Studies.8

.6

.4

.2

0.0

-.2

-.4

-.6

-.8

Boys: Married

Girls:Married

Boys: Not Married

Girls: Not Married

Previous Studies

-0.4

-0.2

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

Adju

sted

Sta

ndar

diz

ed

Dru

g U

se

Married Single

Parents Marital Status

Drug Use by Family Structure and Gender

BoysGirls

Previous Studies

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Age

0.00

0.10

0.20

0.30

0.40

0.50

0.60

Family Structure

Married Parents

Later Divorce

Early Divorce

No Dad Involved

Step Dad Involved

For Boys

Proportion Tried Marijuana by Family Structure and Age Controlling for Background Factors

Previous Studies

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

Married Bio LateDivorce

EarlyDivorce

NeverMarried

Step Parent

Adj

uste

d Per

cent

age

had

Sex

BoysGirls

Previous Studies

-0.15

-0.10

-0.05

0.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

0.30

Married Bio LateDivorce

EarlyDivorce

NeverMarried

Step Parent

Adj

uste

d In

tern

aliz

ing

Pro

blem

s

BoysGirls

Previous Studies

-0.40

-0.20

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

MarriedBio

LateDivorce

EarlyDivorce

NeverMarried

Step Parent

Adj

uste

d E

xter

naliz

ing

Pro

blem

s

BoysGirls

Parenting Dimensions

I. Responsivenessa. Warmth & Affectionb. Addressing emotional, social and physical needs.

II. Demandingnessa. Discipline & Firmnessb. Behavioral Control

Parenting StyleHi

Demandingness

LowDemandingness

HiResponsiveness

LowResponsiveness

AuthoritativeAuthoritarian

PermissiveNeglectful

Previous Studies –

93

96

99

102

105

Adj

uste

d M

ath

Scor

es

Authoritative Authoritarian Permissive Neglectful

Adolescent Achievement by Parenting StyleBlack Hispanic White


93

96

99

102

105

108

Adj

uste

d R

eadi

ng S

core

s


Adolescent Achievement by Parenting StyleBlack Hispanic White


88

90

92

94

96

98

100

102

104

Mat

h Sc

ores


Achievement by Parenting Style for Single Parent AA Youth

BoysGirls


889092949698

100102104106108

Rea

ding

Sco

res


Achievement by Parenting Style for Single Parent AA Youth

BoysGirls

Previous Studies -

-0.60-0.50-0.40-0.30-0.20-0.100.000.100.200.300.400.50

Stan

dard

ized

Mea

ns


Behavioral Problems by Parenting Style For Single Parent AA Youth

BoysGirls

Previous Studies -

-0.40

-0.30

-0.20

-0.10

0.00

0.10

0.20

0.30

0.40

Stan

dard

ized

Mea

ns


Mental Health Problems by Parenting Style For Single Parent AA Youth

BoysGirls

Policy Recommendations Pro-marriage policies such as free or

subsidized marriage counseling, research on how to develop equalitarian relationships, tax or other financial incentives for parents to stay married.

Funding for authoritative parenting training programs are critical.

Increased support for successful mentoring programs.

family factors related to the disproportional rates of african american boys in the juvenile justice...

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