On June 30, 2000, 7,600 youth
younger than 18 were held in adult jails nationwide
Youth younger than 18 were 1% of jail inmates
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ Annual Survey of
Jails, an estimated 7,600 youth younger than 18 were held in adult jails
on June 30, 2000. These under-18 inmates accounted for 1.2% of the total
jail population and have been less than 2% of the jail population since
1994.
Most jail inmates younger than 18 were convicted or awaiting trial as
adult criminal offenders (80%). They were held as adults because they
were transferred to criminal court or because they were in states where
all 17-year-olds (or all 16- and 17-year-olds) are considered adults
for purposes of criminal prosecution.
The number of youth younger than 18 in adult jails in 2000 was 19%
lower than in 1999, but 14% higher than in 1994
- The number of jail inmates younger than 18 held
as adults was 6,100 in 2000—down 29% from the peak of 9,500
in 1999, but up 20% from 1994.
- The number of jail inmates younger than 18 held
as juveniles rose 50% from 1994 to a peak of 2,400 in 1996, then
dropped 38% between 1996 and 2000—a total decrease of 7% from
1994 to 2000. In comparison, the total jail inmate population (all
ages) increased 28% between 1994 and 2000.
- The vast majority of youth younger than 18 in adult jails in 2000
were convicted or awaiting trial as adult criminal offenders (80%).
In 1999 the proportion reached 90%, but since 1994 it had not been
below 70%.
Source: Author’s adaptation of Beck’s Prison and Jail Inmates
at Midyear 1999 and Beck and Karberg’s Prison and Jail
Inmates at Midyear 2000.
The Juvenile Justice
and Delinquency Prevention Act limits the placement of
juveniles in adult facilities
The Act states that “… juveniles
alleged to be or found to be delinquent,” as well
as status offenders and nonoffenders “will not be
detained or confined in any institution in which they have
contact with adult inmates .…” This provision
of the Act is commonly referred to as the “sight and
sound separation requirement.” Subsequent regulations
implementing the Act clarify this requirement and provide
that brief and inadvertent contact in nonresidential areas
is not a violation. The Act also states that “… no
juvenile shall be detained or confined in any jail or lockup
for adults .…” This provision is known as the
jail and lockup removal requirement. Regulations exempt
juveniles being tried as criminals for felonies or who
have been convicted as criminal felons from the jail and
lockup removal requirement. In institutions other than
adult jails or lockups or in jails and lockups under temporary
hold exceptions, confinement of juvenile offenders is permitted
if juveniles and adult inmates cannot see each other and
no conversation between them is possible. This reflects
the sight and sound separation requirement.
Some temporary hold exceptions to jail and lockup removal
exist: a 6-hour grace period that allows adult jails and
lockups to hold alleged delinquents in secure custody until
other arrangements can be made (including 6 hours before
and after court appearances) and a 48-hour exception, exclusive
of weekends and holidays, for rural facilities that meet
statutory conditions.
Some jurisdictions have established juvenile detention
centers that are collocated with adult jails or lockups.
A collocated juvenile facility must meet specific criteria
to establish that it is a separate and distinct facility.
The regulations allow time-phased use of program areas
in collocated facilities. |
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| Juveniles in Corrections |
OJJDP National Report
Series Bulletin
June 2004 |
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