In order to receive federal block grant funds for juvenile justice, states must be in compliance on four key issues:

Deinstitutionalization of status offenders;

Sight and sound separation of juveniles accused or found guilty of delinquent acts from adults in institutions;

Removal of juveniles from adult jails, lockups and other adult facilities;

States must address prevention and systemic efforts to reduce the disproportionate representation of minorities that come into contact with the juvenile justice system.

In 1990, research in Ohio indicated that minority juveniles were overrepresented at every stage of Ohio’s juvenile justice system. A committee was appointed by the Governor’s Council on Juvenile Justice and several efforts were funded. However, by the mid-90s the Committee ceased to exist.

With the transfer of the responsibility of allocating federal funds for juvenile justice from the Office of Criminal Justice Services to the Ohio Department of Youth Services, new emphasis was placed on bringing Ohio into compliance with the mandates of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, including the DMC requirement.

In January 2002, a group of juvenile justice professionals and advocates, including Larry DiStefano of ODYS, organized to form a DMC committee to address the issue. The committee was established in May 2002, as a subcommittee of the Governors Council on Juvenile Justice. The Juvenile Justice Coalition has been a vital force in the establishment of the DMC committee. JJC has several representatives on the committee, including its Chair, Sharon Weitzenhof. Members of the committee represent organizations throughout Ohio that are impacted by the overrepresentation of minorities in the juvenile justice system.

In addition to the mandate in the JJDPA that the issue be addressed by every state (and the reduction in Federal funds if it is not), the economic impact of equitable handling of minority juveniles should not be overlooked. Institutionalization is almost always the most expensive disposition and the experience is likely to lead to increased delinquent behavior.

Since truancy and drug involvement are often factors that bring juveniles into contact with the justice system, community programs to address these issues may be a key element in diverting minorities (as well as other youth) away from delinquent activities. In almost all cases such programs are cost effective as well.

The Committee will develop an action plan to reduce minority overrepresentation in Ohio’s juvenile justice system. Strategies will be identified to impact critical decision points in the system, including arrest, detention, court referral, adjudication, disposition and reintegration. Since its formation, the committee has held training sessions and has sponsored a presentation on DMC at the state conference of the Ohio Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.

In the next month, this web-site will display the Action Plan developed by the DMC committee and how you can help reduce minority disproportionate confinement. Stay tuned.

For more information, please contact Sharon Weitzenhof, (330)666-8596 or sweitzenho@aol.com.

Submitted by Donna Hamparian, President, Juvenile Justice Coalition

Copyright © 2001,2006 Juvenile Justice Coalition