We Need Data that Leads to Solutions that Reduce Crime
Asking Questions Without Regard to Skin Color
I read with interest the article in the Independent about the June 15 presentation that Chief Heitman, Chief Melekian, and Ms. Milligan made to the Board of Supervisors regarding Ethnic and Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice System. I subsequently watched the video of the meeting.
In their presentation, they presented an RRI (Relative Rate Index) model as a way of determining if there are racial/ethnic disparities in the system. The results presented stated that, at various points in the system, youth of color are between 1.4 and 2.6 times more likely to be involved in the criminal justice system than white youth. They reported that these ratios were of significant concern and merited further investigation to see why they were occurring.
I would like to point out another significant disparity in the system that was not discussed. The ratio of disparity regarding presence in the County Jail for two important groups is over 5.6! If a range of 1.4 – 2.4 is of serious concern, 5.6 is a “hair on fire” result.
