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Summit on Racial Disparities in the Juvenile Justice System
The Indiana State Bar Association (ISBA) in collaboration with the Indiana Commission on Disproportionality in Youth Services sponsored a daylong conference in Indianapolis on Aug. 27, 2009, addressing improvements to the juvenile justice system. The "Summit on Racial Disparities in the Juvenile Justice System: A Statewide Dialogue," drew more than 200 representatives from all major points of contact in the system, including the judiciary, law enforcement officers, legislators, educators, prosecutors and social workers. The conference featured James Bell, founder and executive director of the W. Haywood Burns Institute.
The summit was an outgrowth of the Commission on Disproportionality in Youth Services, established by the Indiana General Assembly in 2007, and was meant to fill the gap between the commission's recommendations and real action. The summit's purpose was to expose and educate Indiana's key stakeholders to the kinds of changes taking place in other states that can sweep across Indiana and have a huge, positive impact on the rate at which youth are currently entering the juvenile justice system, specifically youth of color. The summit was not the final step, but an extremely important step, among many to follow. A summit report will be released later this year (2009), and a working group will be designated to continue this effort.
The ISBA also sponsored the "Pre-Summit Law Enforcement Roundtable" on Aug. 26, 2009, where more than 75 police officers, lawmakers and members of the legal community attended. In Indiana, black youth are significantly overrepresented at the point of arrest. Recognizing that overrepresentation of black youth at arrest makes a strong contribution to disproportionate minority contact (DMC) at other key points of contact, the State Bar reached out to police officers, allowing them to weigh in on the unique challenges confronting them on the street.
The conferences featured several national speakers in addition to Bell's lunch keynote address. Speakers included: Prof. John C. Brittain, Washington, D.C., University of the District of Columbia, David A. Clarke School of Law; Lisa Thurau, Cambridge, Mass., attorney and law enforcement training consultant for Strategies for Youth; Hon. Steven C. Teske, Clayton County, Ga., judge of the Juvenile Court of Clayton County; and Dr. Russell Skiba, Bloomington, director of the Equity Project at Center for Evaluation and Education Policy at Indiana University.
To access materials from the summit, please view the items below. If you are intersted in learning more about Indiana's summit, please contact JauNae Hanger at 317.375.8623 or jhanger@wapleshanger.com.
'Summit on Racial Disparities' Materials
Event Program
Registration Brochure
Featured Speakers Flyer
Press Release
Talking Points Flyer
News Clip Report
Resource Guide
'Pre-Summit Law Enforcement Roundtable' Materials
Event Program
Registration Brochure
Featured Speakers Flyer
Press Release
News Clip Report
In the News:
'Summit on Racial Disparities' encourages dialogue
From Res Gestae - October 2009
Teaming up for change
From Indiana Lawyer - Sept. 2, 2009
Ind. expert: Arrests more likely for black youth
From USA Today (AP) - Aug. 28, 2009
Editorial: Addressing racial disparities
From Fort Wayne Journal Gazette - Aug. 20, 2009
Editorial: Keep climbing after summit
From NWI Times - Aug. 20, 2009
Justice summit aims to aid youth
From NWI Times - Aug. 20, 2009
Editorial: Summit offers hope for teen minorities
From Gary Post-Tribune - Aug. 20, 2009
Editorial: Fairly serving youths of color
From South Bend Tribune - Aug. 19, 2009
Juvenile racial disparities subject of conference
From Gary Post-Tribune - Aug. 14, 2009
Juvenile justice summit
From Indiana Lawyer - Aug. 5, 2009
Editorial: Summit excites many
From Indiana Lawyer - Aug. 5, 2009
Background Information:
Indiana Commission on Disproportionality in Youth Services 2008 Final Report
Indiana Commission on Disproportionality in Youth Services: Mental Health Brief
Indiana Commission on Disproportionality in Youth Services: Juvenile Justice Brief
Indiana Commission on Disproportionality in Youth Services: Education Brief
Indiana Commission on Disproportionality in Youth Services: Child Welfare Brief
The Indiana Youth Institute Issue Alert
Indiana Criminal Justice Institute 2007 Final Report
Created Equal Report by National Council on Crime & Confinement
The Costs of Confinement: Why Good Juvenile Justice Policies Make Good Fiscal Sense
Dr. Russell J. Skiba's PowerPoint [2008 Data Report]
James Bell's PowerPoint [Keynote Speaker]