FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 9, 2018
CONTACT: Wenona Wolf, Communication and Development Manager
wwolf@kidsforward.net | 608.284.0580 x 304
MADISON, WI – The racial disproportionality of youth of color who have contact with the juvenile justice system in Wisconsin remains among the highest in the nation, according to a new report from Race to Equity, a project of Kids Forward. Too many African American, Native American, and Latinx youth of color are caught up in a complex juvenile justice system that profoundly impacts their future.
The report notes that despite overall juvenile arrest and incarceration rates declining in recent years, racial and ethnic inequities in Wisconsin’s juvenile justice system have been increasing. Some of the contributing factors to these racial disparities include differential police policies and practices, location of offenses, different reactions of victims, punitive juvenile laws, and racial bias within the system.
“Wisconsin still has a lot of work to do in reforming its juvenile justice system,” says Erica Nelson, Director of Race to Equity. “The plan to close Lincoln Hills is a step in the right direction, but what we do moving forward must take into account a lot of careful consideration, consultation with communities most affected, and a large investment. This investment will ensure that all youth have the opportunity to receive the care they need so they never enter the system in the first place, or at the least, can leave the system and become thriving members of their communities—making our communities and state better off.”
The report, The Complex Maze of the Juvenile Justice System in Wisconsin and Its Impact on Youth of Color, recommends that Wisconsin’s juvenile justice system rely more on public health, restorative justice, procedural justice and trauma-informed approaches to resolve behavioral issues and promote healthy brain development.
In regards to the closing of Lincoln Hills School for Boys and Copper Lake School for Girls, the report also urges the state of Wisconsin to study other states’ juvenile justice models, research trauma-informed approaches for youth, and re-allocate funds in order to focus on rehabilitation rather than harmful punitive measures and increase implementation of community facilities that are closer to the youth’s family.
To access more data and read further recommendations on how Wisconsin can reduce racial disparities in the juvenile justice system, read the full report here.
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The mission of Race to Equity is to build a fairer, more just and thriving community by narrowing the gaps in the opportunities and outcomes between families of color and the larger community.
Kids Forward advocates for effective, long-lasting solutions that break down barriers to success for children and families in Wisconsin. Using research and a community-informed approach, Kids Forward works to help every kid, every family, and every community thrive.