Juvenile Justice Case Processing

This study examines the impact of gender and ethnicity on two-decision stages- adjudication, and disposition- of juvenile justice court case processing in Broward County, Florida during 2002 to 2003 from a sample of the total population of 30,696 juveniles referral to the juvenile justice system. The results of the study are as follows: a larger proportion of Blacks at the adjudication stage was found guilty (71%) than Whites (58%), Hispanics (62%), or Other (56%). A larger proportion of males were found guilty than female (31%). The results at the disposition stage are as follows: A small proportion of Blacks received intermediate sanctions (85%) than Whites (89%), Hispanics (86%), or Other (98%). A small proportion of males (84%) received intermediate sanctions than females (95%).