DMC Factsheet: Nevada

NEVADA

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: Nevada

Nevada has an estimated minority youth population of 35%.
In 1996, African-American youth made up 28% of admissions to adult prisons in comparison to their proportion (8%) in the population.
In 1997, minority youth made up 50% of commitments to public facilities and 39% of secure detention placements.
Statewide, 382 White youth were in residential placement on October 29. 1997 for every 100,000 youths in the population compared to 942 African-American youth, 448 Hispanic, 1,250 American Indian, and 297 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).

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

Larry Carter
Juvenile Justice Specialist
Division of Child and Family Services
711 E. Fifth Street
Carson City, NV 89701-3092
Phone: (702) 684-4421
Fax: (702) 684-4457

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