Milwaukee Data Landscape

• In Event: Landscape Analyses of Criminal Legal Systems: Data, Disparities, and Reform

Abstract

This report provides a comprehensive overview of Milwaukee's criminal legal landscape in 2023, highlighting significant racial disparities and the imperative for community-engaged, data-informed initiatives. Despite a contraction in the criminal legal system during 2020, trends have reversed, with increasing rates of convictions and incarceration since. Black individuals notably face disproportionate encounters with law enforcement and harsher outcomes at each stage compared to Whites, exacerbating racial disparities across stages of the system. The report underscores the necessity of understanding underlying mechanisms and incorporating qualitative data to contextualize trends. Gaps in data sources hinder the tracking of individual trajectories and comprehensive understanding of decision-making processes within the system. Emphasizing the importance of community involvement, the report advocates for collaborative efforts between policymakers, practitioners, and affected communities to drive transformative justice initiatives. By leveraging data-informed approaches and inclusive community engagement, the report calls for concerted efforts towards sustainable and equitable criminal legal change in Milwaukee.

Authors

• Theodore S. Lentz, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

• Sarwat Sharif, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

• Jolynn Woehrer, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee