NCJ Number
247238
Date Published
2012
Length
90 pages
Annotation
This document is intended for use by officials in determining the extent of overrepresentation of minorities in the juvenile justice system in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana.
Abstract
The book begins with a discussion of the problem of disproportionate minority contact (DMC) within a juvenile justice system, and provides information on the DMC Reduction Model. The model, intended for use a framework for identifying, understanding, and addressing the issue of DMC in a juvenile justice system, has five phases: Identification, Assessment/Diagnosis, Intervention, Evaluation/Performance Measurement, and Monitoring. The remainder of the briefing book shows how the DMC Reduction Model was applied to the juvenile justice system in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, and discusses how each of the possible factors could have contributed to the current high rates of DMC in the parish's juvenile justice system. Factors that contribute to DMC include patterns of behavior, transportation and mobility, societal characteristics, access to prevention and/or treatment, and policies and legislation. Interventions aimed at dealing with DMC include direct services, training and technical assistance, and system changes. The evaluation phase of the DMC Reduction model examines the effectiveness of the intervention strategies aimed at reducing DMC, while the monitoring phase examines data at both the State and/or jurisdictional level to identify DMC trends and determine sustainability of DMC-related efforts. Tables, figures, list of resources, and appendixes