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The federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Act requires states to assess the extent to which minority youth
are overrepresented in the juvenile justice system - and, if minority
youth are overrepresented, to implement activities to impact the
issue. Minority youth comprise approximately 10 percent of all of
Iowa's youth, while minority youth comprise nearly a third of the
youth in Iowa's juvenile detention facilities. Overrepresentation
exists at other juvenile court decision points as well. Iowa's Juvenile
Justice Advisory Council has charged a state Disproportionate Minority
Contact (DMC) Committee to provide oversight for Iowa’s DMC
effort. In January of 2002 Iowa initiated its DMC
Resource Center effort with the University of Iowa’s
National Resource Center for Family Centered Practice. The University
of Iowa (The DMC
Resource Center) is providing technical assistance to a number
of local sites, and provides an annual DMC Conference. A web link
for the resource center is included below. In July of 2002 Iowa
initiated its DMC Diversion effort with Polk County. Key components
of the project include a Detention Utilization Review Team, funding
support for diversion program, administrative assistance to implement
the effort from the local Decat project, etc.
DMC
Resource Center Website
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Report of the Governor's Youth Race and Detention Task Force
In May 2007, the first meeting of the Governor’s Youth Race and Detention Task Force (YRDTF) was held. Created by Governor Chester J. Culver, the group’s goal has been to assist in reducing the overrepresentation of minority youth in juvenile detention. The Task Force met eight times and
received testimony from a wide variety of relevant parties. Membership of the group included a broad representation from state government, law enforcement, prosecution, defense, Human Services, Corrections, the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, Education, and community members.
The report products are the culmination of the Task Force’s responsibilities as set out in Executive Order 5, dated October 30, 2007. A copy of the Full Report, Findings (without figures), Recommendations, and a One Page document (front/back) are available below. Report copies were provided to Governor Culver in a ceremony held on May 21, 2009.
YRDTF Full Report
YRDTF Findings
YRDTF Recommendations
YRDTF One Pager
YRDTF Executive Order 5
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