Youth of color are overrepresented at nearly every point of contact with the juvenile justice system—and the finding is disturbingly persistent over time. Youth of color are more likely to be incarcerated and to serve more time than white youth, even when they are charged with the same category of offense. Whether these stark differences are the result of biases in decision-making, social or economic differences that are merely correlated with race and ethnicity, or more complex structural factors, they are unacceptable in a democratic society.
Reducing "disproportionate minority contact" (DMC) with the juvenile justice system was a critical objective for the Models for Change initiative, and the focus of the four core states and the DMC Action Network states. States worked to understand the nature of the problem through better data collection and analysis. Better data allows systems to identify appropriate interventions that promote objective decision-making. Other tools for addressing DMC include improved language and cultural competency, education and workforce development, and expanded detention alternative and nontraditional services
Through improved data and intentional and targeted interventions, Models for Change promoted fair and unbiased juvenile justice systems that treat youth equally regardless of their race or ethnicity.
Featured publications
Initiative tools, research, knowledge, and innovations to promote reform
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Race Matters: Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Juvenile Justice System
- Dec 12, 2014, Center for Children's Law and Policy
- Racial and ethnic disparities are one of the most pervasive and disturbing characteristics of our juvenile justice system. Youth of color are over-represented at key decision points, including…
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Innovation Brief: Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Pennsylvania
- Nov 30, 2012, Dana Shoenberg
- Across the United States, youth of color are disproportionately represented at every stage of the juvenile justice system, with the greatest disparities at the deepest end of the system. Although…
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Knowledge Brief: Are Minority Youths Treated Differently in Juvenile Probation?
- Dec 1, 2011, Models for Change Research Initiative
- While many studies have examined disproportionate minority contact at the front endof the juvenile justice system, few have examined disparities deep within the system—in particular,…
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DMC Performance Measures
- Dec 3, 2009, Lisa Garry
- The purpose of this document is to collect and report performance measures that are relevant to the site's Strategic Innovations and other indicators of progress in the local collaborative to reduce…
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Collecting and Analyzing Data on Racial and Ethnic Disparities: The Peoria Pilot Project
- Apr 1, 2009, James Bell
- The W. Haywood Burns Institute (BI) and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation collaborated to develop and pilot a data template that enables local jurisdictions to strategically gather…
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Leading organizations
Network partners advancing reforms and providing assistance, lessons, and support
- W. Haywood Burns Institute
- (415) 321-4100
- Center for Children’s Law and Policy
- (202) 637-0377
More contacts »
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