The Equal Opportunities Commission met Thursday night to hear the findings of a report on racial disparities in the Dane County criminal justice system.
The Task Force on Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice System compiled the report and provided 80 recommendations. Celia Jackson, co-chair of the task force, said one of the root causes of racial disparities is that current policies have a disproportionate impact on people of color.
“Communities need to come together and say we have a problem here in Dane County and we do not like the distinction of (having) one of the highest disparity levels for people with color in the criminal justice system,” Jackson said.
The commission voted to accept the report and remain engaged by helping with task force recommendations. They also endorsed the creation of an implementation team, which would aim to carry out the goals of the report.
Bert Zipperer, vice president of the EOC, said the findings presented the reality of the negative and destructive impact of racial disparity on local communities. He said one of the most important aspects of the report is the call to action for public officials and the community to get involved.
“We really do need to have some clear statement on where people stand so others can see where the leadership is,” Jackson said.
Jackson also provided an example of the racial disparity in Madison arrests. She said 58 percent of arrests in 2008 were African Americans, though the group only makes up 6 percent of the population.
“[The report] is overwhelming on some levels,” Zipperer said. “Rarely have I read something that was so powerfully stated with such pertinent, powerful statistics.”
Commission member Kathy Cramer Walsh said she believed the EOC would be able to contribute the most through community education centered on issues raised by the task force.
Commission member Donna Hurd raised the idea of involving children in the implementation team as well. She said if children could be a part of the process and tell their peers these people really care, the implementation team can be more effective in lowering the racial disparity.
Although the team has not yet been created, it is currently in the process of approval and County Executive Kathleen Falk will have the final say on appointments, as well as the how it will approach the report’s recommendations, Jackson said.
The EOC also discussed a proposed amendment for the Equal Opportunities Ordinance. The amendment includes adding additional language as well as including other classes under protection from discrimination consisting of gender identity, genetic testing, credit history and citizenship status.
The debate centered on whether the added language would lead the City Council to dismiss the amendment. Ald. Brian Solomon, District 10, said he was worried the council would overlook important revisions because they think the EOC is overstepping their boundaries.
The commission will review the amendment in March to reach a consensus before presenting it to the City Council.
