DMC Factsheet: Louisiana

LOUISIANA

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: Louisiana

Louisiana has an estimated African-American youth population of 39%.
African-American youth are arrested about one and one half the rate of other youths in the state, based on data for years 1995, 1996, and 1997 respectively.
In 1997, African-American youth represented approximately 80% of the youths placed in secure facilities.
Based on the 1997 intake data, African-American youth made up approximately 76% of intake to secure custody and 63% of intake to probation.

Source: Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention State Plan. 2000-2003. Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice (2000) and 2000 Juvenile Crime Analysis. Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice (2000).

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

Renee Renegar
Juvenile Justice Specialist
Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement
1885 Wooddale Boulevard, Room 708
Baton Rouge, LA 70806-1511
Phone: (225) 925-4980
Fax: (225) 925-1998
Email: reneer@cole.state.la.us

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