Chapter 3
National Estimates of Delinquency Case Processing
This chapter quantifies the flow of delinquency cases through each of the following stages of the juvenile court system.
Detention: Juvenile courts sometimes hold youth in secure detention facilities during court processing to protect the community, to ensure a juvenile's appearance at subsequent court hearings, to secure the juvenile's own safety, or for the purpose of evaluating the juvenile. This Report describes the use of detention only between court referral and case disposition, although juveniles can be detained by police prior to referral and also after disposition while awaiting placement elsewhere.
Intake: Formal processing of a case involves the filing of a petition that requests an adjudicatory or waiver hearing. Informally processed cases, on the other hand, are handled without a petition and without an adjudicatory or waiver hearing.
Waiver: One of the first decisions made at intake is whether a case should be processed in the criminal (adult) justice system rather than in the juvenile court. Most states have more than one mechanism for transferring cases to criminal court: prosecutors may have the authority to file certain juvenile cases directly in criminal court; state statute may govern that cases meeting certain age and offense criteria be excluded from juvenile court jurisdiction and filed directly in criminal court; and a juvenile court judge may waive juvenile court jurisdiction in certain juvenile cases, thus authorizing a transfer to criminal court. This Report describes those cases that were transferred to criminal court by judicial waiver only.
Adjudication: At an adjudicatory hearing, a youth may be adjudicated (judged) a delinquent if the juvenile court determines that the youth did commit the offense(s) charged in the petition. If the youth is adjudicated, the case proceeds to a disposition hearing. Alternatively, a case can be dismissed or continued in contemplation of dismissal. In these cases where the youth is not adjudicated delinquent, the court can recommend that the youth take some actions prior to the final adjudication decision, such as paying restitution or voluntarily attending drug counseling.
Disposition: Disposition options include commitment to an institution or other residential facility, probation supervision, or a variety of other sanctions, such as community service, restitution or fines, or referral to an outside agency or treatment program. This Report characterizes case disposition by the most severe or restrictive sanction. For example, although most youth in out-of-home placements are also technically on probation, in this Report cases resulting in placement are not included in the probation group.
This chapter describes case processing by offense and by demographics (age, gender, and race) of the juveniles involved, focusing on cases disposed in 2000 and examining trends from 1985 through 2000.
Detention
-
The number of delinquency cases involving detention increased 41% between 1985 and 2000, from
234,600 to 329,800. The largest relative increase was for drug offense cases (139%), followed by person cases (100%), and public order cases (78%). In contrast, the number of detained property offense cases declined 10% during this period.
-
Despite the decline in the number of detained property cases, these cases still accounted for the largest volume of cases involving detention.
-
Despite the growth in the volume of delinquency cases involving detention, the proportion of cases detained was about the same in 2000 as in
1985 (20% vs. 21%).
-
For person, property, and public order offense cases, the proportion of cases involving detention changed very little between 1985 and 2000varying 6 to 9 percentage points, with
1990 being the peak year.
-
The use of detention for drug offense cases reached a peak in 1990 when
38% of such cases were detained prior to disposition.
Offense profile of detained delinquency cases:
| Most serious offense |
1985
|
2000
|
|
|
Person
|
19%
|
28%
|
|
Property
|
52
|
33
|
|
Drugs
|
7 |
11
|
|
Public order
|
22 |
28 |
|
Total
|
100%
|
100%
|
| Number of cases |
234,600
|
329,800
|
Note:
Detail may not total 100% because of
rounding.
|
-
Compared with 1985, the 2000 detention caseload contained greater proportions of person, drug, and public order offense cases and a smaller proportion of property offense cases.
The number of drug offense and person offense cases involving detention more than doubled between 1985 and 2000
In 2000, juveniles were detained between referral and disposition in 20% of all delinquency cases processed

Black youth were overrepresented in the detention caseload compared with their proportions in the overall delinquency caseload

-
Although black youth were involved in 28% of all delinquency cases processed in 2000, they were involved in
35% of detained cases.
-
This overrepresentation was greatest for drug offense cases: blacks accounted for 22% of all drug cases processed but 37% of drug cases detained.
-
The proportion of detained delinquency cases involving black youth has changed little between the late 1980s and 2000.
-
In all offense categories, youth of other races made up less than 5% of all cases processed and of those involving detention.
Age
-
In each year from 1985 through
2000, delinquency cases involving youth age 16 or older were more likely to be detained than were cases involving youth age 15 or younger.
This same pattern held for person and property offense cases.
-
For both age groups, drug offense cases were more likely to involve detention than were other offense cases between 1987 and 1992. By
2000, however, person offense and public order offense cases were more likely to involve detention than were drug offense cases.
Gender
-
Delinquency cases involving males were more likely to involve detention than were cases involving females during each year from 1985 through 2000. With few exceptions, this pattern was true across the four general offense categories.
Across offense categories, detention was more likely in cases involving older youth than younger youth, males than females, and black juveniles than white juveniles
Percentage of delinquency cases detained by age group:
|
|
15 or younger
|
16 or older
|
|
Year
|
All |
Person
|
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public order |
All
|
Person
|
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public order |
|
|
1985
|
19%
|
23%
|
16%
|
20%
|
28%
|
23%
|
28%
|
21%
|
22%
|
26%
|
|
1986
|
19
|
24
|
16
|
24
|
27
|
23
|
28
|
20
|
26
|
24
|
|
1987
|
18
|
22
|
15
|
29
|
26
|
22
|
26
|
19
|
29
|
24
|
|
1988
|
19
|
23
|
15
|
34
|
26
|
22
|
27
|
19
|
32
|
23
|
|
1989
|
20
|
24
|
16
|
37
|
27
|
24
|
28
|
19
|
36
|
25
|
|
1990
|
22
|
26
|
18
|
39
|
28
|
25
|
30
|
21
|
37
|
26
|
|
1991
|
20
|
24
|
16
|
39
|
25
|
22
|
28
|
19
|
36
|
23
|
|
1992
|
19
|
22
|
16
|
36
|
24
|
22
|
27
|
18
|
33
|
22
|
|
1993
|
18
|
21
|
15
|
29
|
22
|
21
|
27
|
17
|
27
|
22
|
|
1994
|
18
|
21
|
14
|
25
|
22
|
21
|
27
|
17
|
24
|
21
|
|
1995
|
16
|
20
|
12
|
21
|
18
|
18
|
25
|
15
|
20
|
19
|
|
1996
|
16
|
21
|
12
|
20
|
18
|
18
|
26
|
14
|
20
|
19
|
|
1997
|
17
|
22
|
13
|
19
|
21
|
20
|
27
|
16
|
21
|
22
|
|
1998
|
17
|
21
|
14
|
21
|
20
|
21
|
26
|
17
|
24
|
23
|
|
1999
|
19
|
22
|
15
|
21
|
22
|
22
|
28
|
19
|
24
|
23
|
|
2000
|
19
|
22
|
15
|
17
|
22
|
22
|
28
|
18
|
21
|
25
|
Percentage of delinquency cases detained by gender:
|
|
Male
|
Female
|
|
Year
|
All |
Person
|
Property |
Drugs
|
Public order |
All
|
Person
|
Property |
Drugs
|
Public order |
|
|
1985
|
21%
|
27%
|
19%
|
22%
|
26%
|
17%
|
18%
|
13%
|
19%
|
29%
|
|
1986
|
22
|
27
|
19
|
26
|
26
|
17
|
19
|
13
|
21
|
27
|
|
1987
|
21
|
25
|
17
|
30
|
25
|
16
|
17
|
11
|
23
|
25
|
|
1988
|
21
|
26
|
18
|
33
|
25
|
16
|
18
|
12
|
26
|
25
|
|
1989
|
22
|
27
|
18
|
38
|
26
|
17
|
19
|
12
|
28
|
25
|
|
1990
|
24
|
29
|
20
|
39
|
28
|
18
|
20
|
14
|
28
|
26
|
|
1991
|
22
|
27
|
18
|
38
|
25
|
15
|
18
|
12
|
27
|
21
|
|
1992
|
21
|
26
|
18
|
35
|
23
|
15
|
17
|
12
|
26
|
23
|
|
1993
|
20
|
25
|
17
|
29
|
23
|
14
|
17
|
11
|
22
|
19
|
|
1994
|
20
|
25
|
17
|
26
|
23
|
14
|
17
|
11
|
18
|
18
|
|
1995
|
18
|
23
|
15
|
22
|
20
|
12
|
17
|
8
|
16
|
15
|
|
1996
|
18
|
24
|
14
|
21
|
19
|
12
|
19
|
8
|
13
|
16
|
|
1997
|
20
|
25
|
16
|
21
|
22
|
14
|
19
|
9
|
16
|
19
|
|
1998
|
20
|
24
|
17
|
24
|
22
|
15
|
18
|
10
|
20
|
18
|
|
1999
|
22
|
25
|
18
|
23
|
23
|
17
|
20
|
12
|
20
|
20
|
|
2000
|
21
|
26
|
18
|
20
|
24
|
17
|
20
|
12
|
15
|
22
|
Percentage of delinquency cases detained by race:
|
|
White
|
Black
|
|
Year
|
All |
Person
|
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public order |
All
|
Person |
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public order |
|
|
1985
|
18%
|
21%
|
16%
|
18%
|
25%
|
26%
|
30%
|
23%
|
33%
|
31%
|
|
1986
|
18
|
21
|
15
|
20
|
24
|
28
|
31
|
24
|
43
|
32
|
|
1987
|
17
|
19
|
14
|
20
|
23
|
27
|
29
|
22
|
48
|
30
|
|
1988
|
17
|
20
|
14
|
21
|
23
|
28
|
30
|
23
|
51
|
30
|
|
1989
|
18
|
22
|
15
|
23
|
24
|
29
|
30
|
23
|
56
|
30
|
|
1990
|
20
|
24
|
17
|
27
|
26
|
29
|
31
|
24
|
52
|
31
|
|
1991
|
18
|
22
|
15
|
25
|
23
|
27
|
30
|
22
|
49
|
27
|
|
1992
|
18
|
21
|
15
|
25
|
23
|
25
|
27
|
21
|
45
|
24
|
|
1993
|
17
|
21
|
14
|
20
|
21
|
24
|
26
|
19
|
39
|
24
|
|
1994
|
17
|
21
|
14
|
18
|
21
|
23
|
26
|
18
|
36
|
22
|
|
1995
|
14
|
19
|
12
|
14
|
17
|
22
|
25
|
17
|
34
|
20
|
|
1996
|
14
|
20
|
11
|
13
|
17
|
22
|
26
|
17
|
34
|
21
|
|
1997
|
16
|
21
|
12
|
14
|
20
|
23
|
27
|
18
|
34
|
23
|
|
1998
|
17
|
21
|
13
|
18
|
21
|
23
|
25
|
20
|
34
|
21
|
|
1999
|
18
|
22
|
15
|
17
|
20
|
25
|
26
|
20
|
38
|
28
|
|
2000
|
18
|
23
|
15
|
15
|
21
|
25
|
25
|
21
|
32
|
29
|
|
|
Other race |
|
Year
|
All |
Person
|
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public order
|
|
|
1985
|
25%
|
31%
|
21%
|
26%
|
36%
|
|
1986
|
25
|
34
|
21
|
20
|
32
|
|
1987
|
24
|
31
|
21
|
29
|
30
|
|
1988
|
26
|
32
|
24
|
31
|
29
|
|
1989
|
27
|
31
|
24
|
32
|
30
|
|
1990
|
29
|
38
|
25
|
35
|
33
|
|
1991
|
24
|
30
|
21
|
33
|
27
|
|
1992
|
22
|
28
|
21
|
22
|
22
|
|
1993
|
22
|
31
|
18
|
18
|
27
|
|
1994
|
22
|
30
|
18
|
19
|
27
|
|
1995
|
21
|
29
|
16
|
17
|
29
|
|
1996
|
21
|
31
|
15
|
20
|
31
|
|
1997
|
22
|
32
|
16
|
19
|
32
|
|
1998
|
22
|
30
|
16
|
22
|
31
|
|
1999
|
23
|
32
|
17
|
21
|
29
|
|
2000
|
24
|
32
|
18
|
22
|
28
|
Race
-
Each year between 1985 and 2000, the use of detention was more likely for delinquency cases involving black youth than for cases involving white youth or youth of other races.
-
Regardless of offense, cases involving black youth were more likely to be detained than cases involving white youth in each year between
1985 and 2000, except for public order in 1998.
-
For white youth and youth of other races, person offense cases were more likely to involve detention than were other offense cases in 2000.
-
With few exceptions, property offense cases were least likely to involve detention within each race group between 1985 and 2000.
Intake Decision
-
The overall delinquency caseload increased 43% between 1985 and
2000, while the number of nonpetitioned delinquency cases increased just 12%. This means that over the period from 1985 to 2000, the likelihood that a delinquency case would be handled informally declined.
-
Since 1992, petitioned cases have outnumbered nonpetitioned cases.
In 2000, there were 36% more petitioned than nonpetitioned delinquency cases.
-
The number of petitioned drug offense cases increased 275% between 1985 and 2000more than any other offense category.
-
Unlike the trends for other offense categories, the number of formally handled property offense cases peaked in 1996 and then declined through 2000.
Offense profile of delinquency cases, 2000:
| Most serious offense |
Nonpetitioned
|
Petitioned
|
|
|
Person
|
21%
|
24%
|
|
Property
|
44 |
39 |
|
Drugs
|
11
|
13
|
|
Public order
|
23
|
25
|
|
Total
|
100%
|
100%
|
| Number of cases |
693,000
|
940,300
|
Note:
Detail may not total 100% because of
rounding.
|
-
Compared with nonpetitioned cases, petitioned cases in 2000 involved higher proportions of person, drug, and public order offenses and a lower proportion of property offenses.
The number of petitioned delinquency cases increased 81% between 1985 and 2000

Between 1985 and 2000, the petitioned caseload increased for all offense categories

In 2000, juvenile courts petitioned nearly 6 in 10 delinquency cases
|
Most serious offense
|
Number of petitioned cases |
Petitioned cases as a percent of all cases
|
|
|
Total Delinquency
|
940,300
|
|
58%
|
|
Person offenses
|
227,000
|
|
60
|
|
Criminal homicide
|
1,400
|
|
82
|
|
Forcible rape
|
3,700
|
|
78
|
|
Robbery
|
19,300
|
|
86
|
|
Aggravated assault
|
36,700
|
|
72
|
|
Simple assault
|
139,200
|
|
54
|
|
Other violent sex offenses
|
9,800
|
|
78
|
|
Other person offenses
|
16,900
|
|
62
|
|
Property offenses
|
363,000
|
|
54
|
|
Burglary
|
84,200
|
|
78
|
|
Larceny-theft
|
129,700
|
|
43
|
|
Motor vehicle theft
|
29,400
|
|
77
|
|
Arson
|
5,300
|
|
64
|
|
Vandalism
|
54,900
|
|
51
|
|
Trespassing
|
22,700
|
|
46
|
|
Stolen property offenses
|
17,600
|
|
70
|
|
Other property offenses
|
19,200
|
|
67
|
|
Drug law violations
|
117,800
|
|
61
|
|
Public order offenses
|
232,600
|
|
59
|
|
Obstruction of justice
|
127,100
|
|
71
|
|
Disorderly conduct
|
36,200
|
|
40
|
|
Weapons offenses
|
22,600
|
|
60
|
|
Liquor law violations
|
8,900
|
|
33
|
|
Nonviolent sex offenses
|
7,900
|
|
53
|
|
Other public order offenses
|
29,900
|
|
65
|
|
Violent Crime Index*
|
61,000
|
|
76
|
|
Property Crime Index**
|
248,500
|
|
54
|
* Includes criminal homicide, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.
** Includes burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson.
Note:
Detail may not add to totals because of rounding.
|
Between 1985 and 2000, the use of formal processing increased for all four general offense categories
-
Analysis of referral offenses showed that the likelihood of formal handling was greater for more serious offenses within the same general offense category. In 2000, for example, 72% of aggravated assault cases were handled formally, compared with
54% of simple assault cases. Similarly, more than three-quarters of burglary and motor vehicle theft cases were handled formally by juvenile courts, compared with 43% of larceny-theft and 51% of vandalism cases.
-
Between 1985 and 2000, the use of formal processing increased for all four general offense categoriesincreasing more for drug offense cases than for any of the other general offense categories. The likelihood of formal processing increased
18 percentage points for drug offense cases (from 43% to 61%), compared with a 6-percentage point increase for person offense cases
(from 54% to 60%).
-
In each year between 1988 and
2000, drug offense cases were more likely than other offense cases to be handled formally.
Age
-
In each year between 1985 and
2000, delinquency cases involving juveniles age 16 or older were more likely to be petitioned than were cases involving younger juveniles.
-
In 2000, 55% of delinquency cases involving youth age 15 or younger were petitioned, compared with 61% of cases involving older youth.
-
Since 1991, the proportion of drug offense cases petitioned declined for both age groups.
-
Among youth age 15 or younger, drug offense cases were most likely to be handled formally of any offense category between 1987 and 2000 while property offense cases were least likely to be handled formally during this period.
Gender
-
Across all offenses, the proportion of delinquency cases petitioned increased for males and females between 1985 and 2000.
-
Regardless of offense, juvenile courts were more likely to petition cases involving males than females.
-
For both males and females, property offense cases were least likely to be petitioned than cases involving other offense categories.
The likelihood of formal handling increased between 1985 and 2000 for all demographic categories
Percentage of delinquency cases petitioned by age group:
|
|
15 or younger
|
16 or older
|
|
Year
|
All
|
Person
|
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public order
|
All
|
Person |
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public order
|
|
|
1985
|
42%
|
51%
|
40%
|
38%
|
45%
|
50%
|
59%
|
50%
|
46%
|
46%
|
|
1986
|
44
|
52
|
42
|
46
|
45
|
50
|
59
|
50
|
51
|
46
|
|
1987
|
44
|
51
|
41
|
52
|
46
|
51
|
59
|
50
|
55
|
47
|
|
1988
|
45
|
52
|
42
|
57
|
47
|
52
|
58
|
51
|
59
|
49
|
|
1989
|
48
|
53
|
45
|
62
|
50
|
54
|
60
|
53
|
62
|
50
|
|
1990
|
47
|
52
|
44
|
66
|
50
|
54
|
59
|
52
|
65
|
51
|
|
1991
|
47
|
52
|
44
|
68
|
49
|
54
|
59
|
52
|
68
|
50
|
|
1992
|
48
|
52
|
45
|
66
|
50
|
55
|
58
|
52
|
66
|
53
|
|
1993
|
50
|
54
|
46
|
62
|
52
|
57
|
61
|
54
|
64
|
56
|
|
1994
|
50
|
54
|
47
|
59
|
52
|
58
|
62
|
55
|
61
|
57
|
|
1995
|
51
|
55
|
47
|
58
|
54
|
59
|
63
|
56
|
62
|
60
|
|
1996
|
53
|
57
|
50
|
58
|
55
|
60
|
64
|
57
|
62
|
60
|
|
1997
|
53
|
56
|
50
|
57
|
55
|
59
|
63
|
57
|
61
|
60
|
|
1998
|
54
|
57
|
51
|
59
|
56
|
60
|
63
|
57
|
63
|
61
|
|
1999
|
55
|
58
|
51
|
59
|
56
|
60
|
64
|
57
|
62
|
61
|
|
2000
|
55
|
58
|
| |