What does a comprehensive understanding of overrepresentation in DJJ aim to achieve?

A comprehensive understanding of overrepresentation in the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) focuses on addressing the disparities and challenges faced by minority youth in the juvenile justice system. The aim is to reduce risk factors that contribute to negative outcomes for these groups, which includes factors such as socioeconomic status, lack of supportive community resources, and systemic biases that lead to higher rates of arrest and detention among minority populations.

By identifying and understanding these risk factors, practitioners and policymakers can design interventions that target the root causes of overrepresentation. This may involve implementing community programs, providing better access to mental health services, enhancing educational opportunities, and fostering positive youth engagement. Such efforts ultimately strive to create a more equitable system that provides all youth, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds, with the support they need to succeed and avoid deeper involvement in the juvenile justice system.

The other options do not align with the goals of addressing overrepresentation in DJJ as they suggest harmful or counterproductive approaches that could exacerbate the issues of inequality and systemic bias rather than resolve them.