Community Advancement Network addresses racial inequality in Travis County Jail bookings

The Austin Public Safety Commission meeting on July 7, 2025, featured a presentation from the Community Advancement Network (CAN), highlighting its role in improving social, health, educational, and economic opportunities within the community. CAN is a collaborative effort involving government, nonprofit, private, and faith-based organizations, aimed at aligning services and addressing community challenges.

During the meeting, a representative from CAN discussed the organization's community dashboard, which tracks 18 indicators across four key issue areas, including public safety. A significant finding presented was the disproportionality of jail bookings in Travis County. The data revealed that while Black individuals make up 8% of the county's population, they represent 28% of those booked into the Travis County Jail, resulting in a disproportionality ratio of 3.4. This statistic underscores ongoing concerns regarding racial disparities in the criminal justice system.

The presentation also touched on other indicators of disproportionality affecting the Black population, including disciplinary removals in schools, confirmed victims of child abuse and neglect, and access to homeless services. The speaker encouraged attendees to engage with the dashboard and other tools developed by CAN to better understand and address these issues.

The meeting concluded with an invitation for further inquiries and a reminder for attendees to leave their contact information for follow-up. The discussions emphasized the importance of data-driven approaches in tackling systemic inequalities within the community.