DMC Factsheet: Iowa

IOWA

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: Iowa

Iowa has an estimated minority youth population of 8%.
In 1992, 32% of all youth held in juvenile detention facilities were minority youth.
Of the 85 juvenile court youth in jails/lockups in 1992, minority youth comprised 20% of all juvenile court youth held in jails/lockups and African-American youth represented 19% of all juvenile court youth.
State DMC data from 1998 and 1999 show that minority youth comprised 13% of arrests; 31% of confinements in secure juvenile detention facilities; 41% of confinements in secure juvenile correctional facilities; 43% confinements in adult jails; and 44% of confinements in adult lockups .

Source: A Description and Discussion of Minority Overrepresentation in Iowa's Juvenile Justice System. Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning (1993) and Formula Grant Application and Three-Year Comprehensive Plan. 2000. Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning.

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 Iowa's state plan to address disproportionate minority confinement, contact Iowa's state juvenile justice specialist:

Dave Kuker
Juvenile Justice Specialist
Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice
Lucas State Building, 1st Floor
Des Moines, IA 50319
Phone: (515) 281-8078
Fax: (515) 242-6119
Email: dave.kuker@cjjp.state.iau

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