NCJ Number
244773
Date Published
May 2012
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This document provides guidelines for collecting and recording the race and ethnicity of youth in Illinois' juvenile justice system.
Abstract
This document provides guidelines for collecting and recording the race and ethnicity of youth in Illinois' juvenile justice system and serves as a tool for improving Illinois' statewide and local data. Consistency in data categories across communities and agencies allows system leaders to appropriately share information with other stakeholders and the community, and to design effective strategies to reduce the disproportionate impact of the justice system on youth of color. This information helps State and local stakeholders to understand whom the system is serving and better identify the needs of those in the system, to more accurately identify how decisions are made throughout the process, to ensure fairness and objectivity, to know what services or resources are needed, and to monitor and examine system response to youth of color. The Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission and the Illinois Models for Change Initiative strongly encourage agencies, organizations and practitioners at all stages of the juvenile justice system to adopt and implement these Guidelines for accurately recording race and ethnicity of youth in the juvenile justice system.