DMC Action Network

What is the DMC Action Network?
The DMC Action Network is a national platform designed to expand the work of state and local jurisdictions to achieve sustainable reductions in racial and ethnic disparities in the juvenile justice system. The Network is a component of the MacArthur Foundation’s Models for Change juvenile justice reform initiative, in which DMC is a targeted area of improvement. CCLP will organize and support the Network.

Expanding Opportunities in DMC Reductions
The launch of the DMC Action Network presents an opportunity for four additional state and/or local sites across the country to join the Models for Change states (Pennsylvania, Illinois, Louisiana, Washington) in providing leadership in DMC reduction. A key criterion for selection of the additional sites is that the jurisdiction has already achieved measurable success in reducing DMC in some way. The success may be in reducing overrepresentation or racial disparities affecting youth of color in the juvenile justice system, or in adopting measures that reduce the entry or penetration of youth of color into the system. The success may be demonstrated in a variety of ways, including but not limited to:

• Reducing the index of overrepresentation at one or more key system decision points;
• Developing a new data system that collects information on race and ethnicity of youth in the juvenile justice system;
• Compiling and issuing regular reports on race and ethnicity of youth at key decision points in the system;
• Adopting a Risk Assessment Instrument (RAI) to reduce the impact of subjective detention decisions;
• Establishing new alternatives to detention or commitment to prevent youth of color from being unnecessarily incarcerated;
• Creating new culturally competent community-based programs for youth of color.

How the Network Benefits Participants
Participation in the DMC Action Network will bring significant benefits to the new sites, including:

• Funding of up to $100,000 per year for up to three years to support DMC reduction efforts;
• Collaboration with eleven other sites working on DMC reduction;
• Access to the latest developments in the DMC reduction arena via a monthly electronic newsletter, listserv access, website, and technical assistance;
• Attendance at annual meetings of the Network which will be organized by CCLP;
• Recognition as a participant in Models for Change;
• Recognition of leadership in DMC reduction by the MacArthur Foundation.

How the Work of Participating Sites Benefits Others
A key requirement for all Network members is participation with other sites in developing and implementing Strategic Innovations to reduce DMC. Strategic Innovations are specific efforts that lead to measurable outcomes to reduce DMC. Examples of Strategic Innovations include:

• Data Collection and Reporting Innovations to improve site data capacity and ensure the disaggregating of data by race and/or ethnicity;
• Data Analyses Innovations to help drive policy/practice reform, and decrease entry and penetration of youth of color in the juvenile justice system;
• Decision Point Innovations to facilitate objective decision making at problematic decision points;Cultural Competency Innovations to ensure the relevance and appropriateness of services and programs in the juvenile justice system;
• Program and Service Innovations that will primarily impact youth of color.

What Is Required of Participating Sites?
In addition to work on a Strategic Innovation, each Network site will be required to:

• Identify one key stakeholder to lead DMC reduction efforts in the jurisdiction;
• Demonstrate buy-in and support at the state level for its efforts, at a minimum by obtaining a letter from the state DMC Committee or State Advisory Group that distributes funds under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act;
• Commit to identify and work to achieve measurable goals for improvement;
• Attend annual conferences of Network members;
• Participate in quarterly conference calls involving all Network sites;
• Write one article during the year on its DMC reduction efforts, to be published in the monthly DMC Action Network e-newsletter; and
• Submit semi-annual reports on progress in implementing the Strategic Intervention.