ARKANSAS
Disproportionate Minority Confinement
What is Disproportionate Minority Confinement (DMC)? Under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA), disproportionate minority confinement (DMC) exists when the proportion of youths detained or confined in secure detention facilities, secure correctional facilities, jails and lockups who are members of minority groups exceed their groups' proportions in the general population.
How widespread is DMC? In virtually every state, at every stage of the juvenile justice system, youth of color are overrepresented and receive disparate treatment, particularly in secure confinement.
State Profile: Arkansas
- Arkansas has an estimated minority youth population of 25%.
- In 1996, African-American youth comprised 59% of admissions to adult prisons in comparison to their proportion (21%) in the population.
- In 1997, minority youth comprised 62% of commitments to public facilities and 67% of detention placements.
- Statewide, 106 White youth were in residential placement on October 29, 1997 for every 100,000 youths in the population compared to 533 African-American youth, 111 Hispanic, and 45 Asian youth.
Source: Juvenile Offenders and Victims: 1999 National Report. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (1999) and And Justice for Some. National Council on Crime and Delinquency for Building Blocks for Youth (2000).
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What must states do to comply with the DMC mandate? Current law directs states to identify the extent to which disproportionate minority confinement exists, to assess the reason that it exists and to develop intervention strategies to address the causes for disproportionate minority confinement. The law does not require, and has never resulted in, the release of any youths from custody based on race, nor has it required numerical quotas for arrests. No state's funding under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act has ever been reduced as a result of noncompliance with this provision.
Contact Information: To provide comments or obtain additional information on Arkansas's state plan to address disproportionate minority confinement, contact Arkansas' state juvenile justice specialist:
Cheryl Moten
Juvenile Justice Specialist
Division of Youth Services
P.O. Box 1437, Slot 450
Little Rock, AR 72203-1437
Phone: (501) 682-1708
Fax: (501) 682-1339
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Building Blocks for Youth
For a fair and effective youth justice system
...a comprehensive effort to protect minority youth in the justice system
and to promote rational and effective juvenile justice policies...
