Report
Disproportionality and Disparities Among Sexual Minority Youth in Custody
July 2017
Using data from the 2012 National Survey of Youth in Custody-2, this study examines the proportion and characteristics of sexual minority youth in custody and assesses the relationship between sexual orientation and custody-related experiences. The study was published in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence in July 2017.
Highlights
Sexual minority youth are disproportionately represented in juvenile detention and a greater proportion of girls than boys were sexual minorities.
Sexual minority youth are 2 to 3 times more likely to be held in custody for more than a year compared to heterosexual youth.
Sexual victimization using force by other youth in custody was more commonly reported by sexual minority youth, and particularly gay and bisexual boys.
Data Points