A study released in January by the National Council on Crime and Delinquency reported that young blacks in Wisconsin were imprisoned at nearly 20 times the rate as young whites in 2002.

"We've got to look at it honestly and directly and come up with ... real, practical suggestions on things that can be done," Doyle told the 24 commission members that included co-chairmen state Sen. Spencer Coggs, D-Milwaukee, and Madison Police Chief Noble Wray.

Doyle signed an executive order last month that created the commission to determine whether discrimination is built into the state's criminal justice system and develop strategies to reduce racial disparities.

The commission met for the first time Monday at a downtown hotel. It is to submit its recommendations to Doyle by Oct. 1.

The January study looked at how many youths were imprisoned per 100,000 people ages 10 to 17.

Nationwide, black youths were incarcerated at nearly 9 times the average rate of white youths in 2002, according to the study. The rate for American Indians in Wisconsin was nearly 14 times that of whites, and Hispanics were six times more likely to spend time behind bars.

After the speech, Doyle told reporters he wants to commission to look at the system from "top to bottom" - or from when police make their first contact to parole.

He acknowledged that it's an emotional issue.

"There is no reason we should be different than other states in the country, but we are, so we just have to face that honestly and that's going to mean a discussion in that room that at times is going to be very uncomfortable," he said.

A state study published this month looked at arrests, court referrals, probation placements and imprisonment, among others things, for minority juveniles in Milwaukee, Dane, Kenosha, Racine, Brown and Rock counties.

The study, led by the Office of Justice Assistance, said counties should be commended for community-based programs that helped reduce the number of minorities confined in juvenile correctional facilities. The number went from 482 in 2002 to 275 in 2005.

Agency spokesman Ryan Sugden said he didn't know if an adult version of the study was planned."