Making Social Justice Nonnegotiable in Crime Prevention: Case Studies of Youth (In)Justice

The evidence base on the effectiveness of crime prevention programs and policies has grown significantly over the past two decades. But despite the attention given to particular kinds of crime reduction interventions, advancement of social justice and reduction of racial disparities in the administration of criminal justice have been limited. Additionally, despite the growing diversity of the U.S. population, prevention research that focuses on disparities among racial and ethnic groups is limited. In this article, I draw on insights from three juvenile court case studies to discuss the strengths and limitations of research on youth justice. These cases illustrate how social inequalities shape the lives of youth and how juvenile court responses, which are ostensible evidence-based treatments, can compound inequality and punish some youth. I then present strategies that center racial equity and social justice as part of a new framework for youth crime prevention.