Juvenile Justice

Disproportionate Minority Contact
with the Juvenile Justice System

Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) exists when the percentage of minority youth who come into contact with the juvenile justice system is higher than their percentage in the total youth population.

Since 1969, research has shown that DMC is a pervasive and long-standing problem throughout the nation. The causes of DMC are complex and may include disparities both within and outside the system.

Since 1990, the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and other entities have been providing research and technical assistance to state and local efforts to reduce DMC. As a result, some states and localities have demonstrated measurable successes through the implementation of innovative DMC reduction strategies.

Since 1994, the Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice and its citizen advisory board, the Alaska Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee, have been working to reduce DMC in Alaska. DMC studies and a DMC brochure have been published and are available online. DMC statistics are updated annually and are also available online.

Activity Timelines

For additional information, please contact:

  • Angelina Ahrens
    DMC Reduction Coordinator
    Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice
    P.O. Box 110635
    Juneau, AK 99811-0635
    (907) 465-3855
    Angelina.Ahrens@alaska.gov

  • Beverly Jenkins
     DMC Workgroup Chair
    Alaska Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee
    9138 Arlon St., Ste. A3
    Anchorage, AK 99501
    (907) 770-5932
    store5329@theupsstore.com