Addressing Racial and Ethnic Disparity Through Local and Statewide Strategies

Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 5633(d), if a state fails to submit a plan or submits a plan that does not meet the requirements of the JJDP Act, the OJJDP Administrator shall endeavor to make the Formula Grants program fund allocation available to local public or private nonprofit agencies within the state. OJJDP's Nonparticipating State Program makes the Formula Grants program fund allocation available to local public or private nonprofit agencies within the state. The recipient agency must use the funds to carry out activities that support compliance with the requirements of 34 U.S.C. §§ 11133(a) (11), (12), (13), and (22) (the “core” requirements).

The State of Connecticut has chosen not to participate in the Formula Grants Program under Title II, Part B, of the JJDP Act (34 U.S.C. §§ 11131–11133). Therefore, the University of New Haven proposes a comprehensive and coordinated approach to addressing the disproportionate minority contact (DMC) of juveniles who come into contact with the juvenile justice system through local and statewide strategies in collaboration with the Center for Children’s Law and Policy and Regional Youth Adult Social Action Partnership. The Center for Children's Law and Policy will address DMC at the statewide level by working with the Juvenile Justice Policy and Oversight Committee's (JJPOC) Racial and Ethnic Disparities (RED) Workgroup. The goal of their project is to develop a roadmap for the JJPOC's RED Workgroup to address and implement strategies that reduce racial and ethnic disparities that still exist in many decision points in the juvenile justice system.At the local level, the Regional Youth Adult Social Action Partnership will address DMC in Bridgeport, the largest city in Connecticut, by implementing a community-based approach to dealing with crime, the effects of crime on the victim and the community, and the prevention of crime.

CA/NCF