Disproportionate Minority Contact

Sedgwick County DMC Initiative

The Sedgwick County DMC Initiative utilizes cooperation and collaboration of the justice, community and school systems to study and address disproportionate minority contact at the points of arrest and detention for probation violators to prevent youth from moving deeper into the system. The jurisdiction improved data collections, expanded detention alternatives, developed MOUs with the Wichita Public Schools and police to provide an Alternative to Arrest procedure, established systems of graduated response in probation and implemented cultural competence training for corrections Division personnel. The Sedgwick County model provides a pathway for other jurisdictions to approach DMC reduction and achieve significant cost savings by reducing arrests, use of secure detention and out-of-home placements.

Sedgwick County Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) Initiative Presentation

DMC Initiative 2008-2011 Presentation Invitation

Mark Masterson was invited to present information regarding Sedgwick County’s Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) journey at the 18th National Symposium on Juvenile Services - Merging Juvenile Justice and Youth Development: Responding to the Changing Needs of the Field on October 14-18, 2012. Some of the topics included in the presentation were DMC goals, the Sedgwick County model, proven strategies, strategic innovations, reducing arrests for specific offenses, school arrest diversion, detention probation violation sanctions, placement reductions, cultural competence, and site visits/impacts.

DMC Initiative Summary of Impacts

Director Mark Masterson Named Champion for Change in Juvenile Justice Reform

Kansas Representative Melody McCray-Miller joined Mark Masterson as he received recognition as a Champion for Change from Models for Change, supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Masterson, Director of the Sedgwick County Division of Corrections, was honored at a national conference of juvenile justice leaders in Washington, DC for his efforts to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in the juvenile justice system. Colleagues involved in the Models for Change Disproportionate Minority Contact Action Network nominated Masterson for the Champion for Change award. The full program from the awards reception and a short tribute video can be viewed at the 2011 Champions for Change Web page.

Presentations

Mark Masterson was asked to present information in Washington, D.C. at the Models for Change Cross-Action Network Meeting (DMC, Juvenile Justice Mental Health and Indigent Defense) on May 10, 2011. The Cross-Action Network Meeting has representatives from 33 states working on these important issues.
Mark Masterson delivered a DMC Project Presentation to the Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners on January 2, 2008.
Sedgwick County was selected to join the Models for Change Initiative by the MacArthur Foundation. Kansas is one of four states selected in a highly competitive process by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to participate in a new action network to reduce the disproportionate number of minority youth in the juvenile justice system. Kansas is now one of 12 states providing leadership as part of MacArthur’s $120 million Models for Change, a national initiative to reform juvenile justice across the country.
An article for the editorial board, Keep Youths Out of Jail, was published in the January 7, 2008 issue of The Wichita Eagle. The article is provided with permission from The Wichita Eagle.
Director Mark Masterson and Project Manager Jodi Tronsgard presented a workshop on the Sedgwick County DMC Initiative at the DMC Action Network Fifth Annual Working Conference in Washington, D.C. December 6 – 7, 2010. The workshop was presented jointly with Dr. Delores Craig-Moreland with Wichita State University. View the “Working Across Systems to Ensure DMC Reduction” PowerPoint Show.