Author: Richardson, Brad
Title: Juvenile Detention and Alternatives: Perspectives from Three Cunties, Report to the Governor's Youth Race and Detention Task Force
Summary: In collaboration with the Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF), and as part of the state effort to become one of AECF’s Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) sites, the DMC Resource Center was asked to conduct a qualitative study of the use of detention and the use of alternatives to detention in the Iowa counties of Black Hawk, Polk and Woodbury. The three sites participating represent targeted sites that have been actively engaged with the DMC Resource Center around reducing disproportionality and have minority populations which are significantly greater than the state average. Polk County has the largest population in the state and the largest minority population in the state. Woodbury County is the most diverse county in the state with a minority population making up 25 percent of its youth population. Black Hawk County, with an African American youth population of 14 percent, has the highest percentage of African American youth in the state. The original purpose of this work was to collect information about how detention and alternatives are used in those three counties and demonstrate engagement of top systems officials in these discussions to gather information and demonstrate interest and commitment to reducing disproportionality. The focus is described by the following three items: 1) describe what alternatives to detention exist in the three counties; 2) describe what the characteristics of youth held in detention are compared to those who are in alternatives, and 3) demonstrate engagement and commitment of top officials who administer youth-serving systems (e.g., juvenile justice, child welfare, law enforcement, public schools, county attorney, public defender, judicial system) for detention reform in the three counties and gather information from their perspectives on detention and the use of alternatives.
Details: Iowa City, IA: University of Iowa School of Social work, National Resource Center for Family Centered Practice, DMC Research Center, 2008. 51p.
Source: Internet Resource
Year: 2008
Country: United States
URL:
Shelf Number: 119464
Keywords:
Alternatives to Incarceration, Juvenile OffendersJuvenile Detention (Iowa)Minority Groups |
