A disproportionate number of minority youth in NY in juvenile

prisons.

Step 1: Define the ProblemStep 2: Gather the EvidenceStep 3: Identify the CausesStep 4: Examine an Existing PolicyStep 5: Develop SolutionsStep 6: Select the Best Solution

By Jamal Denman Step 1: Define the Problem

12,558 = number of juveniles who entered the New York City Juvenile Justice System in 2008 [CWW]

49.4% = percentage of youths released from detention facilities who are readmitted [MMR09]

80% = percentage of youths released from placement who return within three years [OCFS]

Step 2: Gather the Evidence

83% = percentage of youths in detention who require mental health services [MMR08]

74% = percentage of youths in placement who require substance abuse treatment [OASAS]

40% = percentage of youths admitted to detention who came from only 15 of New York City's 59 community districts [DJJ]

Step 2: Gather the Evidence

68% = percentage of youths from those 15 community districts who came from areas where poverty rates are between 32% and 46% [DHMH]

$251+ million = total New York City budget for the juvenile justice system in FY2008 [IBO]

Step 2: Gather the Evidence

95% = percentage of youths entering detention who are of African-American or Latino decent [CA]

Step 2: Gather the Evidence

What are the social repercussions of having a disproportionate amount of young minorities in juvenile prisons?1. First condition2. Second condition3. Third condition

Children in New York with a parent in prison:

80,000 [CA]

Step 3: Identify the Causes

What are some of the reasons that there is such a disparity in the percentages of young minorities in the juvenile prison system in NY?

Step 3: Identify the Causes

First underlying factorSecond underlying factorThird underlying factor

Step 3: Identify the Causes

Step 4: Examine an Existing Policy

STOP AND FRISK Has STOP and FRISK decreased crime in

high crime areas? Are certain ethnic groups targeted in

STOP and FRISK? DOES STOP AND FRISK WORK TO

PREVENT CRIME? DOES STOP AND FRISK MAINTAIN

HIGH LEVELS OF CONTACT BETWEEN NYPD AND MINORITIES?

Step 4: Examine an Existing Policy

BLOOMBERG’S Young Men's Initiative Job-recruitment centers in public-

housing complexes Retrain probation officers in an effort to

reduce recidivism Establish new fatherhood classes Assess schools on the academic

progress of male black and Latino students

Step 4: Examine an Existing Policy

In groups of 3-4, work together to develop alternative public policy solutions that can help alleviate the disparity of young minorities remain free from the juvenile prison system.

http://www2.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet5.html

Step 5: Develop New Solutions

1. List the three public policy alternatives from Worksheet 5. Create a short word or abbreviation to summarize each policy and write it at the end of each policy (see example).

1.2.3.

Step 6: Select the Best Solution

HIGH MEDIUM LOW

HIGH

MEDIUM

LOW

FEASABILITY

EF

FE

CT

IVE

NE

SS

Step 6: Select the Best Solution

Discuss the reasons for your decisions in the matrix.

Discuss why your group prefers one alternative over the other two alternatives.

Step 6: Select the Best Solution

BY SANDY LIOTTA