Disproportionate minority contact in the Dutch juvenile justice system

Toward a Tailored Model of Youth Justice: A Qualitative Analysis of the Factors Associated with Successful Placement in a Community-Integrated Facility

“…Finally, attention should be payed to the fact that screening may be guided by a certain amount of subjectivity and bias: there are differences in what one considers a ‘severe crime’ or ‘severe safety risks’ and in the interviews professionals as well as youth and their parents all made statements that some youth ‘deserve’ to be placed in the facility while others do not. It has been longer recognized that there is an unwarranted (mainly racial) disparity in the youth justice system as a result of covert or overt bias (Boon et al, 2019). Several studies indicate that there is a selection bias within justice processes (e.g., Müller, 2016; Veen, et al, 2011; Weenink, 2008.).…”

“…Several studies indicate that there is a selection bias within justice processes (e.g., Müller, 2016; Veen, et al, 2011; Weenink, 2008.). A study in the Netherlands indicated that youth with a migration background, as opposed to Dutch youth with a non-migrant background, were less likely to be diverted and more likely to receive a custodial sentence (with Odd Ratios as high as 12.3; Boon et al, 2019). It is important to reduce these kind of biases as much as possible.…”

Addressing mass incarceration amid a pandemic: Psychology informing decarceration as a racial justice and public health response.

“…Henry (2020) notes, “Racism contributes to increased risk of both poor health and incarceration through racist application of policies, and direct oppression codified by policies” (p. 536). DMC is the overrepresentation of racial/ethnic groups within the criminal and juvenile legal systems relative to their prevalence in the general population (Boon et al, 2019; Dawson-Edwards et al, 2020; Fix et al, 2017; Kempf-Leonard, 2007; Leiber et al, 2011). Initially, DMC stood for disproportionate minority confinement to reflect the disparities in the number of minoritized groups in correctional settings; however, the term shifted to contact in reflecting several points before incarceration where the disproportionate rates appear.…”

Addressing Ethnic Differences in the Validity of Self-reported Criminal Behaviour Through a Social Desirability Measure

“…The lack of reliable data on criminal behaviour particularly complicates prevailing discussions around the overrepresentation of ethnic minorities in the justice system. This is exacerbated by the fact that data on the different stages of the judicial process show that overrepresentation of ethnic minorities is far greater in the later stages compared to the earlier stages (Boon et al 2019). In the Netherlands, as in most European countries, the incarceration rates of migrant groups are many times higher than those of the native population.…”

“…Some offences are more likely to be policed, such as burglary and pickpocketing, while other types are less likely to be brought to justice, such as vandalism or domestic violence (CBS 2010). In addition, the characteristics of the offenders-such as their age, gender and ethnicity-influence the likelihood of police getting involved and judicial steps being taken (Grisso and Schwartz 2000; Goff et al 2014;Boon et al 2019). Police statistics therefore provide a skewed image of crimes that are committed and of the type of offenders who commit crimes (Buil-Gil et al 2021;Elffers and van der Kemp 2016;Xie and Lauritsen 2012).…”