The focus of this work has been to uplift the voices, experiences, and expertise of residents, leaders, and stakeholders in Rock County, and to promote greater awareness and understanding of racial and ethnic disparities here, as well as the systemic and structural racism that is at the root of inequities. Our goal for this report is to lay the data groundwork for prompting community dialogue and inquiry. It is our hope that Rock County is able to utilize this report and the intended subsequent discussions to develop a sustained, community-wide effort to address the racial and ethnic disparities that we identified in our data, and that have been described by local communities of color for many years.
Explained: End Juvenile Life Without Parole in Wisconsin
Wisconsin relies far too much on incarceration and blames children for system-wide failures. Instead of incarceration, a better investment for Wisconsin’s youth is in basic needs such as health, housing, and employment. Wisconsin should reimagine a community-based continuum of care grounded in youth voice, emerging adult research, and cross-system collaboration.
