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The purpose of this proposal is to build the capacity of 3 local human rights commissions in Minnesota and the LMHRC to undertake the following action to promote social justice: 1. Become knowledgeable about the reasons why there is a disproportionate percentage of Minnesota youth of color in involved in the juvenile justice system. 2. To acquire the skill to rganize a one day conference for professionals in law enforcement, the juvenile justice system, local school representative and state legislative representatives provide information about ways to reduce the number of Minnesota youth sentenced through the Juvenile Justice Systm. 3. To gain advocacy skill to promote institutional change through public information dissemination and support of legislative change that supports a decrease in juvenile detention in Minnesota. 1. Children of color are more likely to wind up in detention in Minnesota. This is due to a combination of differences within the juvenile justice system where practices vary widely from county to county, discrimination against chidlren of color, and lack of information about best practices that can reduce the number of children in juvenile detention. 2. The State of Minnesota is home to some of the worst levels of disproportionality in the nation. The overall youth of color population aged 10-17 in Minnesota is currently 18% youth of color, yet youth of color represent 38% of youth detained in juvenile detention facilities and 46% of youth committed to a residential facility as part of acourt-ordered disposition (or "sentence" in adult COUrt terms). Michael Belton, April 21, 2009, Testimony, House Committee of Ed and Labor Committee, MN 3. The likelihood that children of color will spend time in detention can be markedly reduced through use of a tool, the Risk Assessment Instrument (RAI) and subsequent actions depending on the outcome of t~ze assessment. Since use of teh RAI started in January 2008, the Average Daily Population of youth being held in secure detention at the Ramsey County Juvenile Detention Center has been reduced by 66%, a remarkable decrease. a. Goal b. Expected Outcomes LMHCR and 3 local commissions to gain the skills 1. Minnesota Human Rights Commissions to mobilize professionals statewide involved with will gain knowledge about the reasons juvenile justice and state representatives to youth of color are proportionately more attend aone-day conference titled: "Juvenile likely to face juvenile detention and the Justice Interventions to Reduce Detention of steps that can be taken to mobilize and Minnesota Youth of Color." inform professionals in their local areas The target audience for the conference is: of ways to decrease this number. county attorneys, public defenders, school 2. The capacity gained by 3 local Human officials, members of the judicial system, Rights Commissions to mobilize positive human services workers, those working action, organize a conference to advocate in corrections, probation and detention, for social justice to reduce the number of legislative representatives and representatives. youth of color in detention is generic and from Minnesota and Midwest Human Rights, enables them to advocate for other issues. Commissions. 3. The LMHRC will acquire broader skill in advocacy for solutions to social justic issues. It will increase its network of Human Rights organizations throughout the