The Racial and Ethnic Disparities (RED) Collaborative is a branch of the Utah Board of Juvenile Justice (UBJJ) that was created to help address the fourth core protection of the federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA). This requires states to assess and address racial and ethnic disparities at key points in the youth justice system. While the genesis to the creation of the RED Collaborative was a federal mandate, there is unified commitment across all juvenile justice stakeholders to tackle the overrepresentation of minority youth across systems. As such, local RED Working Groups have been established in Salt Lake, Utah, and Weber counties as they currently have the highest concentrated youth of color populations. Members are comprised of youth, juvenile justice practitioners, educators, and community-based leaders and advocates.
Civic Engagement Training
Our mission is to encourage young adults across Utah to become civically engaged in issues related to racial and ethnic disparities within the juvenile justice system.
During this four week program, young adults were able to engage and connect to city, county and state officials, community members, and organizations that are working in and with the juvenile justice system.
School Resource Officer (SRO) Discussion Report
From late 2020 to early 2021, the RED Advisory Committee went into the Wasatch Front School Districts Parent/Student community. We wanted to get their perspective and hear from them about the SRO topic and the training they receive. This discussion report is a brief compilation of what they said and suggestions from the discussions.
Join the RED Collaborative
A Focus on Equity
Disparities in the juvenile justice system are a function of more far-reaching societal disparities extending to the socioecological environment minority youth uniquely face. This disparity in juvenile justice can only be comprehensively addressed if also addressed in other systems of care for youth and their community at large. The following policy toolkits, in conjunction with the full report, serves as a guiding tool to guide meaningful policy discussions on innovative interventions within the stakeholder’s jurisdiction and to foster collaborations across agencies to develop a robust continuum of care for youth in Utah.
MEET THE collaborative
Alyssha Dairsow
RED Initiatives Coordinator
adairsow@utah.gov
April Graham, chair
Rachel Edwards
Betty Sawyer
Judge Renee Jimenez
Jerry Oler
Martin C. Munoz
Carol Cabanillas
Franco Libertini
Nindy Le
Eric Tadehara
Victor Perri
Pedro Rico
Leticia Alvarez Gutiérrez