Overrepresentation
Disproportionate Minority Confinement (DMC) occurs when a racial or ethnic groups representation in confinement exceeds their representation in the general population.
This report—the 8th installment in a series devoted to revolutionizing detention programs and practices in America—explores racial disparities in confinement and outlines how we can create a fairer juvenile justice system for today’s youth of color. It recaps the journeys of 4 distinct sites from across the country that committed to reducing racial disparities in juvenile detention as part of Casey Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI). Readers will learn relevant statistics and background information for all 4 locations as well as each jurisdiction’s unique reform strategies, successes and challenges.
The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s quest to reduce racial disparities in detention resulted in 10 key lessons learned. These teaching points range from focused practical tips (make decisions using data; keep the police in the picture) to larger-scale suggestions for staying on track (don’t get caught in abstract discussions—or tackle areas you cannot change).
Lesson no. 10 serves as a simple beacon of hope. It reminds us that some JDAI sites have already pulled off the near impossible; they have leveled the playing field for children of color and created a fairer juvenile justice system for all involved.