ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION GUIDELINES

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GOAL: The goal of the roundtable is to get feedback from system practitioners on the findings presented by Spectrum Associates. We’d like to get your input on:

1. What has caused the improvements that were seen in the reassessment study?

2. What is going on in those areas where disparities are present? Why do we have these disparities?

3. What are some possible strategies to address the disparities?

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Leadership: Each table needs a leader and a spokesperson. They can be the same person, but not

necessarily. The leader shall: (1) guide the table discussion by keeping it focused and ensuring the all persons have an opportunity to participate, and (2) record all ideas on the flip chart provided. The spokesperson will report out on the table’s discussion (described below).

Focus: Each table has been assigned to work on a specific component of the system -- police, court, or corrections. Please thoroughly discuss the assigned component. If time permits, your table may address your choice of one of the other two system components.

Discussion: Your roundtable discussion should focus on the three questions above. Please be sure to allocate enough time for each of the questions.

For the first question (i.e., why improved), the table should first brainstorm and record all possible reasons for improvement. Be sure NOT to inhibit ideas at this point by criticizing them in any way. When all ideas have been recorded, the table should review the list to

identify the major reasons for improvement. It is these major reasons for improvement that will be presented by the table spokesperson.

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Improvements found in 1998-99

Hours at the police station: In 1991-92, Black juveniles charged with a non-SJO felony were held significantly longer at the police station than White juveniles so charged. In 1998-99, this disparity was eliminated. What has contributed to this disparity being eliminated?

Use of Secure Holding: In 1991-92 minority juveniles were much more likely to be placed in secure holding at the police station. In 1998-99, there was little difference in the use of secure holding.

Why has this disparity been eliminated?

Use of Detention: In 1991 across offense type, minority juveniles were much more likely than White juveniles to be placed in a detention center (not neutralized). In 1998, the disparity in the use of detention centers was greatly reduced for non-SJO felonies and misdemeanors. Why has the disparity in the use of the detention centers for juveniles charged with non-SJO felonies and misdemeanors decreased?

Disparities found in 1998-99 (that were not neutralized)

Use of Detention: In 1998, 51% of the Black juveniles charged with an SJO were brought to a detention center. This number drops to only 18% of the White juveniles and the disparity is not neutralized. Why are more Black juveniles charged with an SJO brought to a detention center by the police? What’s behind this finding?

Suggested strategies to address the disparities

Use of Detention: What would you suggest be done to address the causes behind more Black

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Improvements found in 1998-99

Court outcome: In 1991, minority juveniles who were charged with an SJO were more likely to be adjudicated SJO than were White juveniles. In 1998 these disparities were eliminated. Why has this disparity been eliminated?

Disparities found in 1998-99 (that were not neutralized)

Length of Stay in Detention: In 1998, minority juveniles charged with an SJO stayed in detention considerably longer than White juveniles so charged (averages: Hispanic 16.3 days, Black 15.6 days, White 9.1 days). What’s contributing to this finding? Why are minority juveniles spending more

time in detention?

Length of Stay in ADP: Minority juveniles also average more time in an ADP. While, some of the disparities were neutralized, some were not. Why are minority juveniles spending more time than White juveniles in an ADP? What’s behind this finding?

Probation Officer Placement Recommendation: In 1998, Probation Officers were more likely to recommend placement for Black juveniles charged with an SJO than were White juveniles (25% vs. 13%) and the disparity was not neutralized. Why are Probation Officers more likely to recommend placement for Black juveniles charged with an SJO than White juveniles? What’s behind this finding?

Suggested strategies to address the disparities

Length of Stay in Detention: What would you suggest be done to address the causes behind minority juveniles spending more time in Detention than White juveniles?

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Improvements found in 1998-99

Placement at Long Lane During DCF Commitment: For juveniles discharged by DCF in 1991-92, the vast majority of minority juveniles committed for an SJO (about 90%) spent some time during their commitment at Long Lane compared to 50% of the White juveniles committed for an SJO. In the follow-up study, this disparity was virtually eliminated, with the majority of juveniles committed for an SJO across race/ethnicity spending some time at Long Lane. What has caused this disparity to be eliminated?

Placement at in Residential Placement During DCF Commitment: In 1991-92, White juveniles were much more likely to spend time at a residential placement during their commitment. For SJOs, 60% of White juveniles spent time in a residential placement vs. 24 % of Black juveniles and 19% of Hispanic juveniles. Similar disparities were found at the non-SJO felony and misdemeanor levels. In 1998-99, while some disparity still exists, it was much less than it had been. For juveniles committed for an SJO, 60% of the White juveniles went to a residential placement compared to 50% of the Hispanic juveniles and 28% of the Black juveniles. For non-SJO felonies, 70% of the White, 66% of the Black, and 50% of the Hispanic juveniles spent some time in a residential placement during their commitment. Why has this disparity been reduced?

Most Secure Placement Within Long Lane School: Minority juveniles discharged in 1991-92 who had spent some time at Long Lane School were 1½ to 2 times more likely than White juveniles to spend time in the facility’s most secure setting. In 1998-99 the disparities were reduced and those disparities that remained were neutralized by the predictor variables. Why has this disparity been eliminated?

Disparities found in 1998-99

Percentage of Commitment Spent at Long Lane School: In both the baseline and follow-up studies, minority juveniles were found to spend a larger percentage of their commitment at Long Lane School than White juveniles. In the baseline study the disparities were not neutralized. However, in the follow-up study, the disparities were neutralized by having incident reports written-up while at Long Lane. As the writing up of incidents is somewhat subjective, the analyses were conducted without the incident reports data. When the incident reports are not included, the disparities in the percentage of time spent at Long Lane by race/ethnicity are not neutralized. What’s going on behind this issue?

Why are minority juveniles spending more time at Long Lane School than their White counterparts? Are there any issues with the subjectiveness of the incident reports?

Percentage of Commitment Spent in Private and Public Placements Other than Long Lane School: In 1998-99 White juveniles committed for an SJO spent 53% of their commitment in a private or public placement other than Long Lane compared to about 20% for the Black and Hispanic juveniles. Similar disparities were found at the non-SJO felony level, and the disparities were not neutralized by the predictor variables. What’s going on behind these disparities?

Suggested strategies to address the disparities

Percentage of Commitment Spent at Long Lane School: What would you suggest be done to address the finding that minority juveniles spend more time at Long Lane School compared to White

juveniles?

Percentage of Commitment Spent in Private and Public Placements Other than Long Lane School: What would you suggest be done to address the finding that White juveniles spend more time in placements other than Long Lane than the minority juveniles?