NCJ Number
152887
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 56 Issue: 7 Dated: (December 1994) Pages: 70-72
Date Published
1994
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article describes how five States have measured, responded to, and monitored the disproportionate representation of minorities in juvenile confinement facilities.
Abstract
The 1992 reauthorized Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1988 requires, among other things, that States reduce the proportion of minority juveniles confined in secure facilities if that proportion exceeds their representation in the general population. States that do not comply with this mandate will not receive their Federal allotment for juvenile justice programs. Beginning in fiscal year 1995, States must include in their fiscal plans submitted to the Federal Government interventions for addressing disproportionate minority confinement. In so doing, they must focus on diversion, prevention, reintegration, policies and procedures, and staffing and training. In 1991, grants were awarded to Arizona, Florida, Iowa, North Carolina, and Oregon for the purpose of demonstrating how to measure, respond to, and monitor disproportionate minority confinement. In describing the efforts of these States under the grants, this article identifies several central themes among the States. They involve local personnel and community leaders; they have drawn on support and shared financing from formula grants and other State and local sources; the development of services is designed to reduce the return of minority youths to the juvenile justice system; special efforts have been made to ensure that there are services to minority youths as options to continued processing and that these services are made available to minority youths; and the five States have recognized the need for ongoing development of information resources to provide more refined and detailed data about the issues. 2 references