Racial Disparity Initiative

The Racial Disparity Initiative (RDI) was a multi-year, multi-faceted project designed to combine research, demonstration, and advocacy to achieve policy changes to reduce the racial disparities in Minnesota's justice system.

Seventeen studies analyzed the severity, causes, and consequences of racial disparities throughout the justice system. Communities of color along with justice system officials were involved in project design, data collection, and reporting results. The goals of the Racial Disparity Initiative were to:

• Produce quality information about the causes and consequences of racial disparities within Minnesota's justice system;

• Develop policies and strategies that reduce the racial disparities and the collateral effects of involvement in the justice system; and

• Build community capacity to participate in research and policy making.

RDI consisted of two independent but interrelated categories of research. Defining the Disparity projects focused on identifying the extent and causes of racial disparities in the justice system. In total, thirteen studies were conducted under this category of investigation. In contrast, the Collateral Effects projects examined the costs of racial disparities. These costs were realized at various levels in various forms - individuals, families, and communities experienced emotional, economic, and social effects. Four studies examined the collateral consequence of racial disparities. All of these studies involved various communities, and included a large range of cities and counties within Minnesota.

Geographical Dispersion of Study Areas:

Geographical Location Frequency
Minneapolis	3
Saint Paul	1
Twin Cities	3
Hennepin County	5
Hennepin, Ramsey and Kandiyohi Counties	1
Seven County Metropolitan Area*	2
Minnesota Statewide	2

* One study also sampled from surrounding Minnesota reservations.