Introduction
Researchers have long observed differences in rates of serious juvenile and adult offending among ethnic and racial groups in the United States. These differences have prompted competing theoretical interpretations and public policy debates. However, conclusions about the racial differences in serious and violent juvenile offending have been reached primarily using individual-level data that, when used alone, yield incomplete results. Multilevel analyses that consider community and contextual factors have the potential to produce a fuller understanding of the meaning of these differences.
This Bulletin first describes the racial distribution of serious and violent offending among juveniles in the United States. It provides a picture of the short-term national trends for offending patterns by race and ethnicity and summarizes research findings on racial and ethnic differences in chronic juvenile offending. Various explanations are given for the racial and ethnic differences observed. The Bulletin includes recommendations for improving understanding of these differences and implications for guiding prevention and intervention efforts.| Previous | Contents | Next |
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| Race, Ethnicity, and Serious and Violent Juvenile Offending | Juvenile Justice Bulletin • June 2000 |