WHO ARE WE
SSDMC (South Suburban Disproportionate Minority Confinement) Forum on Youth Foundation utilizes a data driven and consensus based process that focuses on reducing disproportionate minority confinement. Although changes occur with stakeholders, SSDMC creates a work plan to maintain focus on the goals and objectives. SSDMC works in collaboration with the stakeholders such as judges, prosecutors and public defenders, probation department, police, community groups and the business community to meet the following objectives:
· Examine and modify policies and procedures systemically
· Improve objective risk assessment instrument (RAI) for appropriate youth detention
· Analyze sentencing decisions leading to unfair disproportionality among youth of color
· Provide input, feedback and assistance to the SSDMC process
WHAT WE DO
SSDMC demonstrates how a local community can mobilize, highlight and rectify systemic inequities that harm local children and youth and those who care about them. Given the demographic realities of the south suburbs, DMC affects youth of color… especially African-American males disproportionately. Therefore, effective remedying strategies will especially benefit youth of color who come in contact with the juvenile justice system by more appropriately responding to their needs and those of their families, neighborhoods and the larger community (Sullivan & Tiff, 2001). SSDMC goes beyond the identification and explanations for disproportionate minority contact and places community-based strategies, recommendations and remedies into action.
SSDMC addressed multiple municipalities with the overall Program Initiative by utilizing a 3-Phase Model. The 3-Phase Model consists of the following three stages:
· Phase 1 — Data Collection and Community Mapping
· Phase 2 — Court Referrals and Detention Processes
· Phase 3 — Court Case Disposition