The Perspectives of Black Youth on Risk and Protective Factors for Peer Involvement in the Juvenile Legal System

Abstract Youth of color are starkly overrepresented in the U.S. Juvenile Legal System. This study aims to understand the risk and protective mechanisms of youth involvement with the JLS based on the perspectives of African American/Black youth. More specifically, factors that hinder youth success and prevent them from becoming entangled in the JLS are explored as well as their recommendations for adults in power and their peers. Photovoice methodology was utilized with 13 youth attending a youth center in systemically overlooked community in a Midwestern urban community. The results suggest that youth identified four main protective factors including adult mentorship, education, sport, and social support, as well as three risk factors including experience of inequality, poor behavioral health, and lack of parental care. The findings here demonstrate the need for deflection and diversion through community-based approaches prior to entrenchment into the juvenile legal system. Based on the findings, prevention programs focused on mentoring, parental/familial support, sports, and mental health support have potential to prevent and reduce JLS. The youth recommendations are discussed in relation to individual, school and community level changes needed to prevent Black youth interactions with the JLS.