The research literature raises the possibility that the rates at which youth from various racial and ethnic subgroups are involved in delinquent activity may differ (e.g., Lauritsen, 2005). Differing rates of involvement is not a universal phenomenon, nor is it presented here to suggest that disproportionate contact is acceptable. As the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act specifies, one of the means of addressing DMC is through prevention activities, which may not only address DMC but also provide substantial benefits to children and youth generally. Several forms of differential behavior are plausible contributors to DMC, including:

• Involvement in a different set of offense categories (often including more serious activities such as possession or sale of controlled substances), involvement in gang-related activity, and more frequent involvement in offenses generally and in offenses with higher levels of severity.
  
• Involvement in delinquent activities at an earlier age.
• Involvement with other social services or justice-related systems, such as the child welfare system (dependency or neglect cases). It is noteworthy that many other social services systems are also establishing initiatives or standards related to cultural competency and issues similar to DMC, thus providing the opportunity for cross-system collaboration in addressing issues of racial or cultural disparities.

Mobility Effects: Importation/Displacement

Indirect Effects

Differential Opportunities for Prevention and Treatment

Justice by Geography

Legislation, Policies, and Legal Factors With Disproportionate Impact

Accumulated Disadvantage

Statistical Aberration