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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
Time: 11:02 pm
Time: 11:02 pm
Results for juvenile justice systems (south dakota)
1 results foundAuthor: Leonardson, Gary R. Title: Assessment of Disproportionate Minority Contact in South Dakota Summary: Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) has been documented in research over the past three decades. In many studies, racial disparities have been found within various stages of the juvenile justice system. The results of the most recent research differ from the previous DMC reviews in that a greater proportion of the recent studies showed inconclusive results. Research that is more recent has used multiple factors with more sophisticated research and statistical techniques, while earlier studies mainly focused on ethnicity. Factors, besides the differential handling of minority youth, which have been found to be related to confinement or other decisions in the juvenile justice system are: gender, geography, age, prior criminal history, family factors, peers, experiences in school, differential offending of minority youth, differential opportunities for prevention and treatment, substance abuse, and related factors. An effective and comprehensive DMC assessment must consider multiple factors and use varied research methods. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used in the current analyses of DMC in South Dakota. Focus group methodology was the qualitative procedure employed, and various univariate and multivariate statistical procedures were used for the quantitative analyses of the available data. Quantitative Findings -- · Native Americans are more likely to be arrested. · Native Americans are more likely to be detained after arrested. · No difference by race was found in adjudicated/not adjudicated. · Native Americans are more likely to be adjudicated to DOC. · No difference by race was found in detention time for those adjudicated. · No difference by race was found in incarceration time for those adjudicated. · No difference by race was found in probation time for those adjudicated. · No difference by race was found in community service time for those adjudicated. · No difference by race was found in fine amount for those adjudicated. · No difference by race was found in restitution amount for those adjudicated. · No difference by race was found in driver’s license suspension time for those adjudicated. · No difference by race was found in placement in secure or non-secure facilities after commitment to DOC. · No difference by race was found in out-of-state placements of DOC clients in secure facilities. · No difference by race was found in any out-of-state placements of DOC clients. · No difference by race was found in secure placements of DOC clients after revocation. Qualitative Findings -- Focus groups are effective because they tap into common human interactions and tendencies. Attitudes and perceptions about common or complex concepts are developed in part by interactions with other people. In order to gain understanding of attitudes and perceptions, focus group methodology has been employed by many researchers. This methodology is a popular qualitative assessment technique that provides information that is difficult to assess through analysis of data sets or formal questionnaires, and it has been used to assess reasons for DMC. Focus groups were conducted at four locations across the state with 92 participants in 12 groups. One-half of the 12 focus groups were with youth in the juvenile justice system (e.g., probation, DOC commitments, etc.). Three focus groups were conducted with criminal justice practitioners such as judges, police department and sheriff’s office personnel, Court Service Officers (CSO) and Juvenile Corrections Agents (JCA). Additionally, three groups of parents who have adolescents in the system and providers of youth services were part of the focus group procedure. While most people tended to view multiple reasons for DMC (e.g., economics, racial and ethnic biases, family structure, gangs, substance abuse, loss of identity, etc.), some held that racial prejudice by practitioners (i.e., law enforcement, judges, etc.) was the prime reason. Others felt that the social system in general was biased, limiting the opportunities for minorities in the areas of employment, education, economic development and related areas. However, minority youth in the focus groups appeared to see less racial/ethnic bias in the juvenile justice system than did participants in the parent/provider groups. The reasons given for DMC in South Dakota include: · Prejudice or biased treatment of minorities. · Close scrutiny of law enforcement and store owners/staff of minority adolescents. · Differences in laws, mores, and cultural values between reservation and non-reservation areas. · Cultural differences concerning the importance of formal education between whites and other groups. · Greater numbers of single parent families, resulting in lack of structure in minority families. · Truancy and dropout rates are believed to be higher in minorities. · Substance abuse is viewed as higher among minority adolescents. · Excessive gang membership by minority juveniles. · Poverty and unemployment was thought to be higher in minority groups. Solutions to DMC and/or Delinquency in General: · Cultural sensitivity/diversity training for persons in the juvenile justice system. · Hire more minority staff members throughout the juvenile justice system. · Mentoring programs which match responsible adults with adolescents in need. · Tribal truancy courts. · Better communication between leaders of reservation communities and nearby or magnate non-reservations communities. · Teach traditional Native American culture to urban Indians. · Teach parenting skills, including making parents responsible for the actions of their children. · More and better services in the areas of advocacy, counseling, parenting, education, intervention, treatment, and related areas. · Use the strengths of Native American and other minority cultures in dealing with problems of delinquency. Intervention Programs found to be Helpful in Ameliorating DMC or Delinquency in General · Mentoring programs · Dropout prevention programs · Home visitation programs · After school recreation programs · Gang resistance training programs Details: Dillon, MT: Mountain Plains Research and Evaluation, 2005. 108p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 29, 2011 at: http://doc.sd.gov/about/grants/documents/FullDMCReportFinal.pdf Year: 2005 Country: United States URL: http://doc.sd.gov/about/grants/documents/FullDMCReportFinal.pdf Shelf Number: 121200 Keywords: Discrimination in Juvenile Justice AdministrationDisproportionate Minority ContactJuvenile CorrectionsJuvenile Justice Systems (South Dakota)Minorities |