LIVING LAWLESS, NO RESPECT FOR AUTHORITY: AN ANALYSIS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEGAL CYNICISM IN ADOLESCENTS.

Abstract

Background: Legal cynicism is prevalent among African Americans, in particular among adolescents. Legal cynicism fosters a crisis of legitimacy in American policing. Some adolescents may be at risk of increased exposure to the legal system. The use of SROs in schools is steadily increasing, but their effects on adolescents? attitudes and perceptions are still not clearly known. Research has begun to delve into the influence of contact with legal authorities on youths? attitudes toward the justice system, but there are gaps in the literature. The development of legal cynicism in adults is studied more than the development of legal cynicism in youth. All research on the development of legal cynicism is in the community context, with none found in the school context. Without necessary intervention adolescents may develop an unwavering distrust of the legal systems and possible governmental processes. Schools are an important institution in the socialization of adolescents. Interactions with police officers in school during a critical developmental period may have profound effects on the youths? perception, trust, and legitimization of the legal system. The intersection of schools and the criminal justice system are tightening, which elicits profound consequences. There is a need for increased attention to be given to SROs during this heightened period of awareness surrounding police conduct, police brutality, & police accountability. Objective: To provide a deeper analysis on what factors contribute to an adolescent?s development of legal cynicism. The goals of this study are to 1.) examine the relationship between adolescents and legal cynicism to understand the association between demographic, school, & neighborhood characteristics, 2.) examine the impact of type of contact and locality of contact on an adolescent?s level of legal cynicism, & 3.) analyze the impact of situation features of police conduct and perceived beliefs of police contact on legal cynicism. Analytical Model: A series of general linear models to analyze the wave 6 data from the Fragile Families & Child Wellbeing Study. Participants: Adolescents aged 14-19. This study restricted models to include all of the cases that had non-missing data on all of the variable in the full model (n= 2,881).