Vision Development Corporation
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC)
In every state in the country, minorities are over-represented at each stage of the Juvenile Justice System. What should be a vestige of the past is not. In Franklin County, children of color represent just 27% of the youth population; however, minorities comprise 64% of those committed to the Department of Youth Services, 62% of those excluded from school, 73% of those charged as adults in juvenile court, and an alarming 77% of those confined to secure residential facilities. Furthermore, African-Americans are more likely to be referred, admitted and held in the Juvenile Justice System than any other ethnic group.
Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) endangers the foundation of freedom and equality not only among youth, but among all people. It is a problem that requires immediate attention from all stakeholders in the justice system. Improving the quality of legal advocacy is one proven strategy for reducing minority over-representation. For this reason, Tamara Fournier and associates have created the Vision Development Corporation (VDC) in order to address DMC and re-entry issues. VDC will connect juveniles with the faith community, housing, business referrals, life skills, mentoring, interviewing etiquette, relationship advisory, and the restoration of family bonds.
The most crucial time for an offender is the transition from confinement back into the community. VDC seeks to empower ex-offenders to become productive members of society through its vital life skills programming. The differences between life inside the institution and life within the community are vast. Often, offenders re-enter society lacking the basic skills and resources necessary to survive. The likelihood of these offenders becoming repeat offenders is increased dramatically.
Email: fournier0961@yahoo.com
