Montana DMC Community and Strategic Planning Project

The Disproportionate Minority Contact Community and Strategic Planning Project (DMC CASP) furthers DOJ's mission by providing competitive funding to states to develop effective strategies to facilitate state and local initiatives to reduce DMC throughout the juvenile justice system. This award to the State of Montana is designed to address DMC among American Indian youth within the state, with a focus on Cascade County. The long term goal is to improve DMC at arrest, diversion and secure detention. The project includes three components: (1) enhance the capacity of state/local DMC Committees to sustain stakeholder engagement and to develop and complete DMC Reduction Strategic Plans through participation in OJJDP's CASP Curriculum and DMC Reduction Model training; (2) Conduct an assessment of DMC at point of arrest in Cascade County; and (3) Implement evidence-based, strategic interventions at points of arrest and secure detention to reduce DMC within 12 months following intervention. This project builds on existing collaborations between the Montana Board of Crime Control, the University of Montana and Alliance for Youth. The project anticipates improvements of 10% regarding DMC at points of arrest, diversion and secure detention. CA/NCF