The Influence of Offender Race, Risk Level, and Participant Emotion on Juvenile Probation Case Judgments

Research has consistently demonstrated minority youth are treated unfairly within the juvenile justice system, yet little research has explored the psychology of juvenile probation judgments and the ways they contribute to disparate treatment. This article reports on two experiments that explored the influence of participant fear on juvenile probation judgments by varying the offender's race (Black or White) and risk information across two studies which invoked fear, anger or no emotion in participants. In Study 1, fearful participants who received no risk information were more likely to recommend a control-oriented supervision approach for a Black offender, but not a White offender. Fearful participants who received moderate risk information were not influenced by the offender's race. Study 2 increased the amount of risk information (Low, Moderate, High), such that all participants received some risk information. Participants relied on the risk information to make their decisions, and we found no biasing race or emotion effects.