RHODE ISLAND
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: Rhode Island
- Rhode Island has an estimated minority youth population of 18%.
- In 1991, the only year for which demographic information is available, 83.3% of youth waived to adult court were minority youths: 58.3% were African-American, 16.7% were Asian, and 8.3% were Hispanic.
- In 1997, minority youth made up 63% of commitments to public facilities and 49% of detention placements.
- For the year 1998, the average daily population of Rhode Island's Training School for Youth (RITSY) was 17% White, 59% African-American, 20% Hispanic, 4% Asian, and .4% Native American.
Source: 2000 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act 3 Year Plan. 2000-2002. Governor's Justice Commission.
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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 Rhode Island's state plan to address disproportionate minority confinement, contact Rhode Island's state juvenile justice specialist:
Elizabeth Gilheeney
Juvenile Justice Specialist
Governor's Justice Commission
One Capitol Hill
Fourth Floor
Providence, RI 02908-5803
Phone: (401) 222-4494
Fax: (401) 222-1294
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