African-American youth: drug trafficking and the justice system.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the role of the legal system in adolescent drug trafficking.


METHODS
Descriptive and analytic review of the literature and relevant legislation.


RESULTS
Utilization of young adolescents by drug "kingpins" in drug trafficking is a new practice that is highly advantageous to the employer for several legal and economic reasons. From the perspective of the drug kingpins, juveniles are particularly useful in drug trafficking because they work for lower wages. Further, even if the youth are arrested, the juvenile justice system enables their rapid return for continued service in the drug trade. From the perspective of the youth, drug trafficking offers one of the few economic opportunities available to them. Further, the numbers suggest a tremendous racial disparity in the juvenile justice system.


CONCLUSIONS
The mutual advantages to both employer and employee of using youths in drug trafficking increases the likelihood that this new practice will continue to flourish and with increasingly young children. Effective prevention and treatment interventions will need to be multifaceted, addressing the economic, educational, and social issues that have permitted the rapid emergence of adolescent drug trafficking. Finally, further investigation of the apparent racial disparities is necessary.
Leviton
S
S
School of Law, University of Maryland at Baltimore.
Schindler
M A
MA
Orleans
R S
RS
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D001741:Black or African American / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology; D003416:Criminal Law / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000208:ethnology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D013287:Illicit Drugs