NCJ Number
198385
Date Published
December 2002
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This report contains a 5-year statewide plan to eliminate disproportional minority representation (DMR) for youth involved in the New Mexico juvenile justice system.
Abstract
The four-part mission statement for this project is described as being to impact circumstances, incorporate related resources, increase public awareness, and collaborate with state agencies and local communities while working to reduce the over-representation of minority youth in all phases of the juvenile justice system. Zero tolerance for DMR was the bottom line for this project. As an example of the disparity, it is reported here that for 10 to 17 year olds, 60 percent were white, 2.1 percent were Black/African American, 13.4 percent were American Indian. Twenty one percent were not able to be classified according to census categories, but half of that population identified their ethnicity as Hispanic. Yet it is noted, 62.2 percent of the youth under formal probation supervision were identified as Hispanic. Component I of the report identifies the DMR problems and trends and describes the formation of a Blue Ribbon Panel and Local DMR committees at three sites (Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and Hobbs) beginning in the fall of 2001. Component II assesses the policies of state and local agencies as they may impact DMR. Component III discusses the measures and resources that can be applied in New Mexico to effectively intervene in the juvenile justice system. An appendix contains the names of community participants in the Blue Ribbon Panel.