Latent Functions of Juvenile Risk Assessment Tools: Exploring Racial and Ethnic Differences in Invisible Disability among Adjudicated Youth in Washington State

Abstract

This paper investigates the latent functions of juvenile risk assessment (JRA) tools—specifically their potential to reveal invisible disabilities such as autism spectrum traits—among the population of formally adjudicated youth in Washington State from 2009 to 2019. Analyses suggest that correlates of autism—lack of emotional regulation, impulse control, use of aggression, and weak empathy—are more prevalent among Black youth, relative to other races. Hispanic youth have lower prevalence of invisible disability prevalence, suggesting JRA tools’ limited capacities to indicate autism among this group. Recommendations draw on the social model of disability referencing reasonable modifications to juvenile probation practice implemented in other jurisdictions to serve neurodiverse youth.