OJJDP National Report Series: Juveniles in Corrections

Juvenile facilities reported more juvenile delinquents in placement in 1999 than at any time since 1991

Is the increase in the custody population real?

Compared with data reported by public and private juvenile facilities in the 1991 Children in Custody census, the 1999 Census of Juveniles in Residential Placement data show a 43% increase in the number of juvenile offenders held and a 50% increase in the number of delinquents held. However, because the two data collections are not strictly comparable, it is impossible to determine if any of this apparent growth is actually an artifact of the change in methods. For example, the CJRP’s October census date may have resulted in a larger count compared with the CIC’s February date. In addition, the CJRP’s roster format, more explicit definitions, and use of electronic reporting may have facilitated a more complete and accurate accounting of facility residents.

The data give support to the veracity of the trends since 1991

The data do, however, provide a strong indication that the changes are real. For example, it seems unlikely that the new CJRP method is merely counting more residents than the CIC method given that the population increases between the last wave of CIC data and the first wave of CJRP (i.e., between 1995 and 1997) were not necessarily the greatest biennial increases. In addition, the trends seen in the custody data are comparable to the trends observed in data from juvenile courts. Most telling is the fact that the CJRP data show an 8% drop in the number of status offenders held compared with the last wave of CIC data. This provides even more evidence that the CJRP method is not merely counting more individuals than the CIC method.

Juvenile facilities reported 51% more juvenile delinquents commited to
residential placement in 1999 than 1991

Custody status/ facility operation	1991–93	1993–95	1995–97	1997–99	1991–99
	Percent change in the number of residents
Offenders
Public and private	4%	16%	16%	3%	43%
Public	5	14	12	1	36
Private	–2	21	25	7	60
Delinquent offenders
Public and private	4%	16%	18%	5%	50%
Public	6	14	13	1	38
Private	–1	24	37	17	98
Committed
Public and private	2%	14%	20%	8%	51%
Public	3	12	16	5	41
Private	–1	23	31	13	79
Detained
Public and private	12%	20%	7%	1%	46%
Public	13	19	3	–5	31
Private	6	44	79	61	340
Note: Juvenile offenders are youth under age 21 charged with a law violation (i.e., either a delinquency or a status offense). Committed juveniles are those in placement in the facility as part of a juvenile or criminal court-ordered disposition. Detained juveniles are those held prior to adjudication while awaiting an adjudication hearing in juvenile court, those held after adjudication while awaiting disposition or after disposition while awaiting placement elsewhere, and those awaiting transfer to adult criminal court or awaiting a hearing or trial in adult criminal court. Source: Author’s analysis of OJJDP’s Census of Juveniles in Residential Placement [machine-readable data files] and Children in Custody Census of Public and Private Juvenile Detention, Correctional, and Shelter Facilities [machine-readable data files].

Some declines were seen in the number of juveniles held for relatively serious offenses (such as homicide, robbery, and burglary)
	Percent change in the number of juveniles in residential placement, 1997–99
Most serious offense	All facilities	Public facilities	Private facilities
Total juvenile offenders	3%	1%	7%
Delinquency	5	1	17
Person	7	2	24
Criminal homicide	–21	–25	40
Sexual assault	34	29	46
Robbery	–14	–11	–26
Aggravated assault	6	–3	54
Simple assault	12	8	18
Other person	50	40	82
Property	–1	–1	1
Burglary	–3	–4	1
Theft	–5	–8	2
Auto theft	–5	–5	–5
Arson	23	21	28
Other property	13	16	5
Drug	6	4	12
Drug trafficking	2	–3	18
Other drug	9	8	10
Public order	8	3	20
Weapons	–4	–5	–1
Other public order	17	10	31
Technical violation*	12	1	63
Violent Crime Index^•	–3	–4	0
Property Crime Index^‡	3	–2	21
In public facilities, the number of juveniles held for simple assault rose 8% and the number held for other person offenses not included in the Violent Crime Index rose 40%. In private facilities, the number of juveniles held for simple assault rose 18% and the number held for other person offenses not included in the Violent Crime Index rose 82%. There was a 12% increase in the number of juveniles held for technical probation, parole, or court order violations. The growth was driven by the change in private facilities (63%) rather than public facilities (1%). * Technical violations = violations of probation, parole, and valid court order. • Violent Crime Index = criminal homicide, sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault. ‡ Property Crime Index = burglary, theft, auto theft, and arson. Source: Author’s analysis of OJJDP’s Census of Juveniles in Residential Placement [machine-readable data files].

Since 1995, the numbers of status offenders in custody have declined
Figure showing number of status offenders in juvenile facilities, 1991-99

For most status offense categories, fewer youth were in custody in 1999 than in 1997

From 1997 to 1999, the number of status offenders in both public and private facilities declined for all offense categories except underage drinking. The number of juveniles held in public facilities for underage drinking rose 68%, which more than offset the 12% decline in private facilities.

Percent change in the number of residents, 1997–99:
	Facility operation
Most serious offense	Total	Public	Private
Status offense	–32%	–9%	–40%
Incorrigibility	–35	–10	–40
Runaway	–28	–2	–40
Truancy	–31	–25	–34
Underage drinking	18	68	–12
Curfew violation	–46	*	–57
Other status	–46	–25	–58
* Too few juveniles to calculate a reliable percentage.

Contents


Juveniles in Corrections	OJJDP National Report Series Bulletin June 2004