| Abstract: | Abstract A rural county with a high Hispanic population showed small disproportionate minority contact (citation or arrest) in initial analysis of federally required Disproportionate Minority Confinement (DMC) studies, but closer examination of a random sample of all juveniles arrested in 2000 showed that a subtle, but significant disparity still existed when a more detailed examination was conducted. While overt discrimination did not appear to be extreme, stereotypes still negatively influenced Hispanic/Law Enforcement relations at various levels, and Hispanics were still over-represented in contacts and confinement. Three areas were examined to explain/inform these lingering disparity issues: Cultural, Economic and Structural factors. |
