A Test of Fairness The mission of the Connecticut juvenile justice system is to collaboratively promote and administer prevention, justice, and effective treatment in a fair, timely, and appropriate manner with dignity and respect for the individual needs of children, youth, and families. Connecticut Juvenile Justice Strategic Plan: Building Toward a Better Future, 2006

Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) Minority kids overrepresented in the juvenile justice system Treated more harshly at certain points there

Test question one Which CT kids are more likely to be: Referred to court? Placed in secure holding? Taken to detention? Not released from detention prior to case disposition? Transferred to adult court? Spend more time in CJTS?  Black White  Hispanic Hispanic  Hispanic Hispanic  Hispanic Source: A Second Reassessment of Disproportionate Minority Contact in Connecticut’s Juvenile Justice System, OPM and Spectrum Associates 2009

Which states have DMC? All of them

Why do we have DMC? Because minority kids commit more crime. FALSE In national surveys where youth report on their own behavior, we find that kids engage in very similar behaviors at very similar rates. Minority kids do the same things white kids do. But we treat kids of color more harshly National Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance

Why do we have DMC? Because of poverty. FALSE Connecticut studies weighed how coming from a low-income neighborhood affects treatment. Poverty is a disadvantage, but it does not account for the difference in treatment. Source: A Second Reassessment of Disproportionate Minority Contact in Connecticut’s Juvenile Justice System, OPM and Spectrum Associates 2009

Why do we have DMC? Because there’s more crime where these kids live – in cities. FALSE The rates of disproportion in how kids of different races enter the system are even worse in Connecticut’s suburban and rural communities than they are in the cities. Source: A Second Reassessment of Disproportionate Minority Contact in Connecticut’s Juvenile Justice System, OPM and Spectrum Associates 2009

DMC is real. Race alone is a factor in how children are treated.

So we have to solve the whole, national problem of racism to help our kids now? FALSE Targeted policy changes make a difference.

History Lesson In 1995, the state found minority kids were being placed in detention at higher rates than their white peers for all offenses. Connecticut then changed practice. Police now get a court order before taking a child to detention, unless he or she is charged with a SJO. In the 2001 (and 2009) study the disparity for non-SJO detention admissions disappeared.

Learning from History Now minority kids accused of SJOs are getting detained more than their white peers. More than 50 charges are deemed SJOs. What can we do about it?

Require a court order to detain a juvenile for an SJO. Going to detention can be traumatic Triggers more serious consequences as the child moves through the system Detention costs $377/day/kid. We can’t afford to put kids in detention because of the color of their skin. Requiring the court order is a zero cost solution.

Will this solve DMC? It is a good first step, but we need to do more, including: Using data to boost accountability Supporting LISTS who wish to focus on DMC locally Bringing kids back from out-of-state placements Reducing in-school arrests

Extra Credit Betrays our own values Harms kids, families, communities Wastes money by sending kids to the system inappropriately Wastes money by sending kids too deep into the system How does DMC hurt Connecticut?

Concrete costs Avg. daily cost Detention$377 Secure residential$562 CJTS$774

Who is hurt by DMC? Every taxpayer in Connecticut