Juvenile Justice
The Chicago Urban League's Juvenile Justice program focuses on Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) in Illinois.
DMC refers to the disproportionate number of minority youth who come into contact with the juvenile justice system.
African American youth are placing last in the marathon of racial fairness, leaving an increasing number of black youth subjected to adult criminal court and harsher punishments.
- According to Illinois' Cook County Circuit Court, African-American juveniles make up 85% of its juvenile justice system population
- While black youth in Illinois constitute approximately 20% of the state's population, they account for more than 50% of youth passing through the state's juvenile detention centers
- According to the W. Haywood Burns Institute, youth of color receive more severe sanctions that white youth even when charged with the same category of offense
- Youth of color comprise 35% of the total U.S. youth population, yet make up 65% of all youth who are securely detained pre-adjudication
The Chicago Urban League is focused on raising public awareness of Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) that leads to advocacy for equitable policy making linked to DMC reduction strategies, programs, and services including but not limited to:
- Legislative Education
- Community-Based Alternatives
- Data Awareness
The Chicago Urban League will contribute to the development of a statewide, and ultimately national constituency for good juvenile justice policy and practice that will drive rational and equitable policies that reduce DMC.
The Chicago Urban League's public awareness campaign and its application of a racial equity lens will play a leading role in determining where, when and why African American youth are disproportionately affected by certain policies and practices along the juvenile justice continuum.
