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Results for juvenile justice system (minnesota)

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Author: Dwayze, Dana

Title: On The Level: Disproportionate Minority Contact in Minnesota’s Juvenile Justice System

Summary: Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) describes a national phenomenon whereby youth from communities of color have contact with the juvenile justice system at rates different from those of white youth. Over a decade of DMC data collection at the national level support that youth of color are often overrepresented at stages of the justice system focused on accountability and sanctions while underrepresented at stages intended to curtail deeper system involvement or provide community-based services. Minnesota shares in this problem with rates of disparity for youth of color in the justice system which are both higher than national levels and more severe in magnitude than those of many comparable states. An assumption made, often erroneously, is that racial disparities exist because youth of color commit more crime than white youth. While data suggest white youth and youth of color may have different rates of offending for some crimes, the levels of disparity observed are too great to be explained by differences in youth offending patterns alone. Furthermore, once youth of color are in the system, research reveals they receive harsher consequences than white youth with similar offenses and criminal histories. A host of factors potentially contribute to disparate rates of justice system contact for youth of color. These include the inequitable distribution of resources in communities, bias within the policies and practices of juvenile justice agencies, and underlying social conditions of communities, particularly poverty. DMC results from a complex interplay of these factors, rather than a single cause. Therefore, each unique state and jurisdiction must investigate which factors most contribute to disparate outcomes for youth of color and engineer an appropriate local response to reduce racial disparities. Juvenile justice is not the only system in Minnesota in which there are inequities for youth of color. Health and income data show youth of color are more likely to live in poverty, less likely to have health insurance, and are more likely to have serious health problems in adulthood than white youth. Youth of color are overrepresented in the child welfare system, are more likely than white youth to be reported as abused or neglected, and are more likely to be placed in out-of-home care. Furthermore, racial disparities are present in the education system where youth of color have higher rates of school discipline resulting in suspension and expulsion and lower graduation rates than white youth. Each youth serving system must work internally and in collaboration with communities and other youth serving systems to effectively reduce disparate outcomes for youth.

Details: St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Justice Programs, Statistical Analysis Center, 2012. 76p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 2, 2012 at: https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/ojp/forms-documents/Documents/On%20The%20Level_FINAL.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: United States

URL: https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/ojp/forms-documents/Documents/On%20The%20Level_FINAL.pdf

Shelf Number: 126830

Keywords:
Discrimination
Disproportionate Minority Contact
Juvenile Justice System (Minnesota)
Minority Youth
Racial Disparities