Minority youth accounted for 7 in 10 juveniles held in custody for a violent offense in 1999

More than 6 in 10 juvenile offenders in residential placement were minority youth

On any given day in 1999, nearly two-thirds (65%) of juvenile offenders in placement in public facilities were minority youth. In private facilities the proportion of minority youth was just over half (55%).

Racial profile of juvenile offenders in residential placement, 1999:
 
Facility operation
Race/ethnicity
Total
Public
Private
Total
100%
100%
100%
White
38
35
45
Minority
62
65
55
    Black
39
40
38
    Hispanic
18
21
12
    American Indian
2
2
2
    Asian
2
2
2
Note: The census reference date was October 27, 1999.

The racial/ethnic profile in 1999 was similar to the profile of juveniles in custody in 1995. However, the 1999 data show a somewhat smaller proportion of minority youth in public facilities and a larger proportion in private facilities than the 1995 data.

Racial profile of juvenile offenders in residential placement, 1995:
Facility operation
Race/ethnicity
Total
Public
Private
Total
100%
100%
100%
White
37
32
53
Minority
63
68
47
    Black
40
43
34
    Hispanic
19
21
10
    American Indian
2
1
2
    Asian
2
3
1
Note: The census reference date was February 15, 1995.

Non-Hispanic black youth accounted for 55% of juveniles held for robbery and 65% of those held for drug trafficking
 
Racial/ethnic profile of juvenile offenders in residential placement, 1999
Most serious offense
Total
White
Black
Hispanic
American
Indian
Asian
Total
100%
38%
39%
18%
2%
2%
Delinquency
100
37
40
19
2
2
    Criminal homicide
100
23
44
24
3
6
    Sexual assault
100
52
31
13
2
1
    Robbery
100
19
55
22
1
3
    Aggravated assault
100
29
40
25
2
3
    Simple assault
100
43
37
15
2
1
    Burglary
100
43
34
18
2
2
    Theft
100
43
38
15
2
1
    Auto theft
100
36
38
21
2
3
    Drug trafficking
100
16
65
18
0
1
    Other drug
100
30
47
20
1
1
    Weapons
100
26
42
27
1
4
    Technical violation*
100
39
39
18
2
2
Status
100
54
31
10
2
1

* Technical violations = violations of probation, parole, and valid court order.

Note: Race proportions do not include youth of Hispanic ethnicity. Totals include a small number of youth for whom race/ethnicity was not reported or was reported as “other.” Detail may not total 100% because of rounding or because all offenses are not presented.

Source: Author’s analysis of OJJDP’s Census of Juveniles in Residential Placement [machine- readable data files].


10% of non-Hispanic white youth in custody were held for a sexual assault, compared with 5% of Hispanic and non-Hispanic black youth
 
Offense profile of juvenile offenders in residential placement, 1999
Most serious offense
Total
White
Black
Hispanic
American Indian
Asian
Total
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Delinquency
96
94
97
98
95
98
    Criminal homicide
1
1
2
2
2
4
    Sexual assault
7
10
5
5
7
3
    Robbery
8
4
11
9
4
11
    Aggravated assault
9
7
9
13
10
15
    Simple assault
7
8
6
6
8
5
    Burglary
11
13
10
11
13
12
    Theft
6
7
6
5
6
5
    Auto theft
6
5
6
6
7
8
    Drug trafficking
3
1
5
3
1
1
    Other drug
6
5
7
7
5
4
    Weapons
4
3
4
5
2
7
    Technical violation*
13
13
13
13
14
10
Status
4
6
3
2
5
2

* Technical violations = violations of probation, parole, and valid court order.

Note: Race proportions do not include youth of Hispanic ethnicity. Totals include a small number of youth for whom race/ethnicity was not reported or was reported as “other.” Detail may not total 100% because of rounding or because all offenses are not presented.

Source: Author’s analysis of OJJDP’s Census of Juveniles in Residential Placement [machine- readable data files].


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Juveniles in Corrections OJJDP National Report Series Bulletin
June 2004