JOIN US FOR IOWA'S GROUND BREAKING
CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM EVENT

Engaging Citizens, State Decision Makers, National Experts, Politicians, Judges, Lawmakers, Law Enforcement, & Advocates Around Justice Reform and Minority Disproportionality.

Nine years ago, the Iowa Summit on Justice & Disparities was founded to address Iowa’s notorious distinction of ranking number one in the nation for disproportionately incarcerating African Americans and other minorities. Over the years, through the work of dedicated advocates, engaged officials and keen practitioners we have seen slight improvement and Iowa now ranks number 6 in the nation for disproportionality.  

We are far from done. Iowa’s disproportionality is still double that of the national average, and while our numbers have improved in the adult system, In the juvenal system they remain abysmal. 

WE MUST WORK TOGETHER TO CHANGE THIS!

WHY WE GATHER 

• African Americans in Iowa are only 4% of the population, yet they are 25% of the prison population.  They are 9.1 times more likely than their Caucasian counterparts to be incarcerated, ranking Iowa as number 1 in the nation for this statistic.  Other minority groups are also disproportionately represented. 

• According to the Sentencing Project, Iowa African American youth are more likely than any other state in the nation to be detained in the juvenile Justice System at a rate of  721 per 100,000 compared to 83 for  White youth. 

• A 2020 Report from The Iowa Department of Human Rights  Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning Division  identifies areas of racial and ethnic disparities in Iowa’s juvenile justice system and recommends systemic changes that are necessary to eliminate these disparities 

SUMMIT OBJECTIVES

Information! Action! Solutions!  The Iowa Summit on Justice & Disparities serves as a vehicle to connect stakeholders with resources to work together for significant reduction in the startling rates of minority contact in the criminal justice system in Iowa