Thursday, November 01, 2007
Governor Culver Issues Executive Order Formalizing The Youth, Race and Detention Task Force
Executive Order #5 Lays out Membership, Goals and Benchmarks for Task Force
DES MOINES – Today, Governor Chet Culver issued Executive Order Number Five which lays out the membership, goals and benchmarks of the Youth, Race and Detention Task Force. The order was presented at the Task Force’s third meeting in Des Moines.
“The disproportionate number of minority youth in Iowa’s detention facilities is a very serious issue that we must address,” said Governor Culver. “The Lt. Governor and I look forward to working with the members of the Youth, Race and Detention Task Force to address the challenges minority youth face in our state. Together, I know we can give Iowa’s kids the tools they need to reach their full potential.”
Minority youth make up nearly 37% of those in juvenile detention centers, and African-American youth account for two thirds of that number.
Governor Culver created the Youth, Race, and Detention Task Force in May to address this disproportionate number of minorities in Iowa’s juvenile detention facilities. Today’s executive order formalizes the task force, and sets out expectations, including collaborating with state and local entities associated with Iowa’s juvenile justice system, diagnosing the system’s problems and creating solutions that will reduce racial disparity.
In addition, the task force will be charged with creating a report, to be completed in two years, which will lay out recommendations on ways to reduce, if not eliminate, the disproportion of minorities in detention facilities.
Earlier today, Lt. Governor Judge provided welcoming comments to the group.
“Children are our greatest resource,” said Lt. Governor Judge. “We must bring this disparity in our juvenile justice system down so that every Iowa child can achieve the success we all know is possible.”