title: Disproportionality and Disparities among Sexual Minority Youth in Custody.
abstract: Research indicates that sexual minority youth are disproportionately criminalized in the U.S. and subjected to abusive treatment while in correctional facilities. However, the scope and extent of disparities based on sexual orientation remains largely overlooked in the juvenile justice literature. This study, based on a nationally representative federal agency survey conducted in 2012 (N = 8785; 9.9% girls), reveals that 39.4% of girls and 3.2% of boys in juvenile correctional facilities identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual. These youth, particularly gay and bisexual boys, report higher rates of sexual victimization compared to their heterosexual peers. Sexual minority youth, defined as both lesbian, gay, and bisexual identified youth as well as youth who identified as straight and reported some same-sex attraction, were also 2-3 times more likely than heterosexual youth to report prior episodes of detention lasting a year or more. Implications for future research and public policy are discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Law, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA. wilsonb@law.ucla.edu.
authors.forename: Bianca D M
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5842-5229
authors.initials: BDM
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Social Welfare Department, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Sid P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.affiliation: School of Law, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Ilan H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: Mills College, Government Program, Oakland, CA, 94613, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.affiliation: School of Law, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stemple
authors.affiliation: School of Law, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Jody L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Herman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D058445:Bullying; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D011287:Prejudice; D000075665:Recidivism; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000072339:Sexual and Gender Minorities / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D014481:United States
keywords: Detention; Juvenile justice; Sexual minorities; Sexual violence