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
|
52
|
59
|
57
|
61
|
65
|
58
|
62
|
61
|
Percentage of delinquency cases petitioned by gender:
|
|
Male
|
Female
|
|
Year
|
All |
Person
|
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public order
|
All
|
Person |
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public order
|
|
|
1985
|
48%
|
57%
|
47%
|
45%
|
46%
|
35%
|
41%
|
31%
|
33%
|
44%
|
|
1986
|
49
|
58
|
48
|
51
|
46
|
36
|
43
|
32
|
38
|
43
|
|
1987
|
50
|
57
|
48
|
56
|
47
|
36
|
42
|
31
|
43
|
43
|
|
1988
|
51
|
57
|
49
|
60
|
49
|
37
|
43
|
32
|
46
|
44
|
|
1989
|
53
|
58
|
51
|
64
|
51
|
40
|
45
|
35
|
48
|
47
|
|
1990
|
52
|
58
|
50
|
68
|
51
|
38
|
43
|
33
|
52
|
46
|
|
1991
|
53
|
58
|
50
|
70
|
51
|
39
|
44
|
34
|
53
|
47
|
|
1992
|
53
|
57
|
51
|
68
|
52
|
39
|
43
|
34
|
50
|
47
|
|
1993
|
55
|
60
|
53
|
65
|
55
|
41
|
46
|
36
|
48
|
49
|
|
1994
|
56
|
60
|
53
|
63
|
56
|
43
|
47
|
38
|
46
|
50
|
|
1995
|
57
|
61
|
53
|
62
|
58
|
43
|
49
|
38
|
48
|
51
|
|
1996
|
59
|
63
|
56
|
62
|
58
|
46
|
51
|
40
|
49
|
52
|
|
1997
|
59
|
61
|
56
|
61
|
59
|
46
|
51
|
41
|
50
|
53
|
|
1998
|
59
|
62
|
57
|
63
|
60
|
48
|
52
|
42
|
52
|
54
|
|
1999
|
60
|
62
|
57
|
63
|
60
|
48
|
53
|
42
|
52
|
53
|
|
2000
|
60
|
63
|
58
|
62
|
61
|
49
|
53
|
42
|
52
|
54
|
Race
-
The proportion of delinquency cases petitioned increased for all racial groups between 1985 and 2000.
-
Delinquency cases involving black juveniles were more likely to be petitioned than were cases involving white youth or youth of other races.
-
In 2000, racial differences in the likelihood of petitioning were greatest for drug offense cases: 78% of drug cases involving black juveniles were petitioned, compared with 57% for juveniles of other races and 56% for white juveniles.
-
For black juveniles, drug offense cases were more likely to be handled formally than any other offense category between 1985 and 2000.
Property offense cases were least likely to be handled formally during this period.
Percentage of delinquency cases petitioned by race:
|
|
White
|
Black
|
|
Year
|
All |
Person
|
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public order
|
All
|
Person |
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public order
|
|
|
1985
|
42%
|
47%
|
41%
|
39%
|
42%
|
56%
|
64%
|
52%
|
60%
|
55%
|
|
1986
|
43
|
49
|
43
|
43
|
42
|
57
|
63
|
53
|
69
|
56
|
|
1987
|
43
|
48
|
42
|
45
|
42
|
59
|
64
|
54
|
74
|
60
|
|
1988
|
44
|
48
|
43
|
48
|
44
|
58
|
63
|
53
|
76
|
59
|
|
1989
|
46
|
50
|
45
|
49
|
46
|
61
|
64
|
57
|
80
|
60
|
|
1990
|
45
|
49
|
44
|
53
|
46
|
60
|
62
|
54
|
82
|
61
|
|
1991
|
46
|
50
|
44
|
53
|
45
|
59
|
62
|
54
|
83
|
60
|
|
1992
|
47
|
50
|
45
|
52
|
48
|
58
|
61
|
53
|
81
|
58
|
|
1993
|
49
|
52
|
47
|
51
|
51
|
60
|
64
|
55
|
80
|
60
|
|
1994
|
49
|
52
|
48
|
50
|
52
|
61
|
65
|
56
|
78
|
60
|
|
1995
|
51
|
54
|
48
|
52
|
55
|
61
|
64
|
55
|
77
|
61
|
|
1996
|
53
|
57
|
51
|
52
|
55
|
62
|
65
|
57
|
78
|
61
|
|
1997
|
53
|
55
|
51
|
52
|
56
|
62
|
64
|
57
|
77
|
62
|
|
1998
|
54
|
56
|
52
|
54
|
56
|
65
|
65
|
59
|
80
|
65
|
|
1999
|
54
|
56
|
52
|
54
|
56
|
65
|
67
|
60
|
80
|
65
|
|
2000
|
55
|
58
|
52
|
56
|
57
|
64
|
66
|
60
|
78
|
65
|
|
|
Other race
|
|
Year
|
All |
Person
|
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public
order
|
|
|
1985
|
45%
|
59%
|
42%
|
33%
|
45%
|
|
1986
|
47
|
61
|
45
|
41
|
44
|
|
1987
|
47
|
60
|
45
|
37
|
45
|
|
1988
|
49
|
61
|
48
|
44
|
45
|
|
1989
|
50
|
59
|
48
|
43
|
48
|
|
1990
|
51
|
60
|
48
|
43
|
53
|
|
1991
|
51
|
58
|
49
|
44
|
48
|
|
1992
|
50
|
56
|
48
|
44
|
51
|
|
1993
|
49
|
59
|
47
|
50
|
47
|
|
1994
|
50
|
60
|
48
|
49
|
48
|
|
1995
|
52
|
59
|
49
|
48
|
51
|
|
1996
|
51
|
60
|
47
|
54
|
56
|
|
1997
|
51
|
58
|
47
|
52
|
55
|
|
1998
|
52
|
56
|
47
|
54
|
58
|
|
1999
|
52
|
57
|
48
|
56
|
58
|
|
2000
|
55
|
59
|
51
|
57
|
59
|
Waiver
-
The number of delinquency cases judicially waived to criminal court in
1994 was 70% greater than the number waived in 1985. This increase was followed by a 54% decline between 1994 and 2000. As a result, the number of cases waived in 2000 was 21% less than the number waived in 1985.
-
The number of judicially waived person offense cases more than doubled between 1985 and 1994 and then declined 58% through 2000. As a result, the number of person offense cases judicially waived in 2000 was
6% less than the number waived in 1985.
-
The number of drug offense cases judicially waived increased sharply through 1991. The number of waived drug offense cases stabilized between 1992 and 2000, averaging about 1,200 cases per year.
-
The number of waived property offense cases declined 55% between
1994 and 2000. By 2000, the number of waived property offense cases was
47% less than the number waived in 1985.
-
For public order offenses, the number of cases waived in 2000 was 6% less than the number waived in 1985.
-
One probable reason for the decline in the number of judicial waivers after
1994 was the large increase in the number of states that passed legislation excluding certain serious offenses from juvenile court jurisdiction and legislation permitting the prosecutor to file certain cases directly in criminal court.
The number of cases judicially waived to criminal court peaked in 1994 at 12,100 cases
Although the number of waived cases has dropped in recent years, the number was higher in 2000 than in 1985 for drug offense cases

Between 1985 and 2000, person offense cases were most likely to be judicially waivedexcept for 1989 through 1992, when drug offense cases were most likely to be waived

The offense profile of cases judicially waived to criminal court changed considerably between 1985 and 2000

-
The proportion of all waived delinquency cases that involved a property offense as the most serious charge declined from 54% in 1985 to 36% in 2000.
-
The proportion of person offenses among judicially waived cases grew from 28% in 1987 to a peak of 47% in 1995, and then dropped to 40% in 2000.
-
The waived caseload contained a larger share of drug offenses in 2000
(14%) than in 1985 (5%).
-
On average, public order offense cases accounted for 8% of the waived caseload between 1985 and 2000.
Age
-
In 2000, 1.2% of all petitioned delinquency cases involving juveniles age
16 or older were waived to criminal court, compared with 0.1% of cases involving younger juveniles.
-
For older juveniles, the probability of waiver peaked in 1991 at 3.2% and then declined through 2000. This pattern was most marked in waivers for older juveniles charged with drug offenses, which peaked at 6.5% in
1991 and then dropped to 1.0% by 2000.
-
Regardless of offense, less than 1% of all petitioned delinquency cases involving juveniles age 15 or younger were waived to criminal court between 1985 and 2000.
Gender
-
Regardless of offense, cases involving males were more likely to be judicially waived than cases involving females.
-
For both males and females, the proportion of petitioned drug offense cases judicially waived increased sharply between 1985 and 1991 and then declined through 2000.
-
For males, the use of judicial waiver for petitioned drug offense cases showed a substantial decline between 1991 and 2000 (from 4.3% to 0.7%). Petitioned drug offense cases involving females followed the same pattern, decreasing from 2.2% in
1991 to 0.4% in 2000.
-
Females were 4% to 7% of the judicially waived caseload between 1985 and 2000.
The probability of waiver to criminal court is substantially greater for cases involving older juveniles than for cases involving younger juveniles
Percentage of petitioned delinquency cases judicially waived by age group:
|
|
15 or younger
|
16 or older
|
|
Year
|
All
|
Person
|
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public order
|
All
|
Person
|
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public order
|
|
|
1985
|
0.2%
|
0.4%
|
0.1%
|
0.0%
|
0.1%
|
2.9%
|
5.1%
|
2.9%
|
1.6%
|
1.4%
|
|
1986
|
0.2
|
0.4
|
0.1
|
0.1
|
0.1
|
2.7
|
4.5
|
2.7
|
1.9
|
1.2
|
|
1987
|
0.2
|
0.4
|
0.1
|
0.1
|
0.1
|
2.4
|
3.7
|
2.5
|
2.3
|
0.9
|
|
1988
|
0.2
|
0.4
|
0.1
|
0.2
|
0.1
|
2.3
|
3.7
|
2.4
|
2.3
|
1.0
|
|
1989
|
0.3
|
0.5
|
0.2
|
0.4
|
0.1
|
2.6
|
3.9
|
2.5
|
4.2
|
1.0
|
|
1990
|
0.2
|
0.5
|
0.1
|
0.5
|
0.1
|
2.6
|
4.1
|
2.4
|
4.0
|
1.1
|
|
1991
|
0.3
|
0.6
|
0.1
|
0.5
|
0.2
|
3.2
|
4.8
|
2.7
|
6.5
|
1.2
|
|
1992
|
0.3
|
0.6
|
0.2
|
0.4
|
0.2
|
2.8
|
5.0
|
2.3
|
3.9
|
1.3
|
|
1993
|
0.3
|
0.6
|
0.2
|
0.4
|
0.2
|
2.9
|
5.6
|
2.3
|
3.3
|
1.2
|
|
1994
|
0.3
|
0.7
|
0.2
|
0.3
|
0.1
|
2.8
|
5.4
|
2.4
|
2.7
|
1.1
|
|
1995
|
0.3
|
0.8
|
0.2
|
0.3
|
0.1
|
2.1
|
4.4
|
1.7
|
2.0
|
0.6
|
|
1996
|
0.3
|
0.7
|
0.2
|
0.2
|
0.1
|
2.1
|
4.3
|
1.8
|
2.0
|
0.6
|
|
1997
|
0.2
|
0.4
|
0.1
|
0.2
|
0.1
|
1.7
|
3.6
|
1.6
|
1.7
|
0.5
|
|
1998
|
0.2
|
0.3
|
0.1
|
0.2
|
0.1
|
1.6
|
2.8
|
1.6
|
1.6
|
0.5
|
|
1999
|
0.2
|
0.3
|
0.1
|
0.2
|
0.1
|
1.4
|
2.7
|
1.4
|
1.5
|
0.5
|
|
2000
|
0.1
|
0.3
|
0.1
|
0.1
|
0.1
|
1.2
|
2.1
|
1.2
|
1.0
|
0.4
|
Percentage of petitioned delinquency cases judicially waived by gender:
|
|
Male
|
Female
|
|
Year
|
All
|
Person
|
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public order
|
All
|
Person |
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public order
|
|
|
1985
|
1.5%
|
2.7%
|
1.4%
|
1.1%
|
0.8%
|
0.4%
|
0.7%
|
0.4%
|
0.4%
|
0.2%
|
|
1986
|
1.5
|
2.4
|
1.3
|
1.3
|
0.8
|
0.5
|
0.8
|
0.6
|
0.6
|
0.2
|
|
1987
|
1.4
|
2.1
|
1.3
|
1.7
|
0.6
|
0.4
|
0.5
|
0.4
|
0.6
|
0.3
|
|
1988
|
1.3
|
2.0
|
1.2
|
1.6
|
0.6
|
0.4
|
0.5
|
0.3
|
1.1
|
0.1
|
|
1989
|
1.5
|
2.2
|
1.3
|
2.9
|
0.6
|
0.4
|
0.4
|
0.4
|
1.1
|
0.2
|
|
1990
|
1.4
|
2.2
|
1.2
|
2.8
|
0.7
|
0.4
|
0.3
|
0.4
|
1.3
|
0.1
|
|
1991
|
1.7
|
2.6
|
1.3
|
4.3
|
0.8
|
0.4
|
0.6
|
0.3
|
2.2
|
0.0
|
|
1992
|
1.6
|
2.8
|
1.1
|
2.6
|
0.8
|
0.4
|
0.4
|
0.3
|
0.9
|
0.2
|
|
1993
|
1.6
|
3.0
|
1.2
|
2.3
|
0.8
|
0.3
|
0.5
|
0.4
|
0.4
|
0.1
|
|
1994
|
1.6
|
3.1
|
1.2
|
1.8
|
0.7
|
0.4
|
0.5
|
0.4
|
0.5
|
0.1
|
|
1995
|
1.3
|
2.6
|
0.9
|
1.4
|
0.5
|
0.2
|
0.4
|
0.2
|
0.3
|
0.1
|
|
1996
|
1.3
|
2.6
|
1.0
|
1.4
|
0.4
|
0.3
|
0.4
|
0.2
|
0.5
|
0.0
|
|
1997
|
1.1
|
2.1
|
0.9
|
1.3
|
0.4
|
0.2
|
0.4
|
0.2
|
0.2
|
0.1
|
|
1998
|
1.0
|
1.6
|
0.8
|
1.2
|
0.4
|
0.3
|
0.4
|
0.3
|
0.5
|
0.1
|
|
1999
|
0.9
|
1.5
|
0.8
|
1.0
|
0.4
|
0.2
|
0.3
|
0.2
|
0.5
|
0.1
|
|
2000
|
0.7
|
1.2
|
0.7
|
0.7
|
0.3
|
0.2
|
0.3
|
0.1
|
0.4
|
0.1
|
Percentage of petitioned delinquency cases judicially waived by race:
|
|
White
|
Black
|
|
Year
|
All
|
Person
|
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public order
|
All
|
Person |
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public order
|
|
|
1985
|
1.2%
|
2.1%
|
1.2%
|
0.6%
|
0.6%
|
1.8%
|
2.7%
|
1.5%
|
2.1%
|
1.1%
|
|
1986
|
1.1
|
1.7
|
1.2
|
0.8
|
0.6
|
1.8
|
2.7
|
1.5
|
2.0
|
0.9
|
|
1987
|
1.1
|
1.6
|
1.2
|
1.0
|
0.4
|
1.5
|
2.1
|
1.3
|
2.2
|
0.7
|
|
1988
|
1.0
|
1.4
|
1.1
|
1.1
|
0.5
|
1.5
|
2.1
|
1.2
|
2.0
|
0.6
|
|
1989
|
1.0
|
1.5
|
1.1
|
1.3
|
0.4
|
1.8
|
2.4
|
1.3
|
4.0
|
0.8
|
|
1990
|
0.9
|
1.3
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
0.4
|
1.9
|
2.6
|
1.2
|
4.0
|
1.0
|
|
1991
|
1.2
|
1.9
|
1.1
|
1.5
|
0.5
|
2.1
|
2.8
|
1.3
|
5.8
|
0.9
|
|
1992
|
1.1
|
1.9
|
0.9
|
1.0
|
0.5
|
1.9
|
2.9
|
1.3
|
3.5
|
1.1
|
|
1993
|
1.1
|
1.9
|
1.0
|
1.1
|
0.5
|
2.0
|
3.4
|
1.3
|
3.0
|
1.0
|
|
1994
|
1.1
|
2.1
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
0.5
|
1.8
|
3.1
|
1.1
|
2.4
|
0.7
|
|
1995
|
0.8
|
1.7
|
0.7
|
0.7
|
0.3
|
1.6
|
2.8
|
1.0
|
2.2
|
0.6
|
|
1996
|
0.9
|
1.9
|
0.8
|
0.8
|
0.2
|
1.4
|
2.5
|
1.0
|
2.0
|
0.5
|
|
1997
|
0.7
|
1.4
|
0.7
|
0.7
|
0.2
|
1.2
|
2.0
|
0.8
|
1.8
|
0.5
|
|
1998
|
0.7
|
1.2
|
0.7
|
0.6
|
0.2
|
1.1
|
1.5
|
0.8
|
1.9
|
0.4
|
|
1999
|
0.6
|
1.1
|
0.6
|
0.6
|
0.3
|
1.0
|
1.4
|
0.8
|
1.7
|
0.4
|
|
2000
|
0.5
|
0.8
|
0.5
|
0.4
|
0.2
|
0.8
|
1.2
|
0.6
|
1.5
|
0.3
|
|
|
Other race
|
|
Year
|
All |
Person
|
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public order
|
|
|
1985
|
0.9%
|
1.7%
|
0.7%
|
0.9%
|
0.5%
|
|
1986
|
0.7
|
2.3
|
0.3
|
1.7
|
0.0
|
|
1987
|
1.0
|
2.5
|
0.6
|
0.2
|
1.0
|
|
1988
|
0.8
|
1.7
|
0.8
|
0.1
|
0.2
|
|
1989
|
0.6
|
1.0
|
0.6
|
0.0
|
0.2
|
|
1990
|
0.9
|
2.5
|
0.6
|
0.2
|
0.2
|
|
1991
|
0.8
|
2.1
|
0.5
|
0.5
|
0.0
|
|
1992
|
1.2
|
3.2
|
0.6
|
1.9
|
0.4
|
|
1993
|
1.1
|
2.9
|
0.7
|
0.6
|
0.5
|
|
1994
|
1.5
|
3.4
|
0.8
|
1.2
|
1.0
|
|
1995
|
1.1
|
3.1
|
0.5
|
0.4
|
0.3
|
|
1996
|
0.9
|
2.2
|
0.6
|
0.9
|
0.2
|
|
1997
|
1.2
|
2.9
|
0.8
|
1.1
|
0.4
|
|
1998
|
0.8
|
2.2
|
0.4
|
0.3
|
0.4
|
|
1999
|
0.6
|
1.9
|
0.3
|
0.2
|
0.2
|
|
2000
|
0.5
|
1.3
|
0.3
|
0.0
|
0.2
|
Race
-
Overall, delinquency cases involving black youth were more likely to be waived than were cases involving white youth or youth of other races each year between 1985 and 2000.
-
Regardless of offense, cases involving black youth were more likely to be judicially waived than were cases involving white youth each year between 1985 and 2000.
-
For white youth and youth of other races, person offense cases were most likely to be judicially waived of any offense category between 1985 and 2000. For black youth, drug offense cases were most likely to be judicially waived during this period.
-
Among black juveniles, the use of waiver to criminal court for cases involving drug offenses peaked in
1991 (5.8%) and then declined through 2000.
-
For white juveniles, the number of judicially waived cases increased
51% between 1985 and 1994. By
2000, the number of waived cases fell 48% from the 1994 peak.
-
For black juveniles, the number of judicially waived cases nearly doubled between 1985 and 1993, then declined 56% through 2000.
-
For both white and black juveniles, the number of cases waived in 2000 was less than the number waived in 1985.
-
Among white juveniles, the number of judicially waived person offense cases reached a peak in 1996130% higher than the number of cases waived in 1985. By 2000, the number of waived person offense cases had declined 60% from the
1996 peak.
-
Among black juveniles, the number of person offense cases waived increased 121% between 1985 and 1994. This increase was followed by a 64% decline through 2000.
Offense profile of waived cases:
| Most serious offense |
1985
|
2000
|
|
|
White
|
|
|
|
Person
|
26%
|
31%
|
|
Property
|
62
|
48
|
|
Drugs
|
4
|
9
|
|
Public order
|
8
|
11
|
|
Total
|
100%
|
100%
|
|
Black
|
|
|
|
Person
|
43%
|
39%
|
|
Property
|
43
|
29
|
|
Drugs
|
6
|
21
|
|
Public order
|
9
|
10
|
|
Total
|
100%
|
100%
|
Note:
Detail may not total 100% because of
rounding.
|
-
From 1985 through 2000, person offense cases made up the largest share of the waived caseload for black youth.
-
In comparison, property offense cases made up the largest share of the waived caseload for white youth each year from 1985 to 2000.
Among both white juveniles and black juveniles, the number of delinquency cases judicially waived to criminal court peaked in the mid-1990s and then declined


Adjudication
Between 1993 and 2000, as the use of formal processing increased, so did the proportion of delinquency cases that resulted in a delinquency adjudication or were judicially waived to criminal court

In 2000, youth were adjudicated delinquent in two-thirds of all petitioned delinquency cases
|
Most serious offense
|
Number of cases
adjudicated delinquent
|
Percentage of
petitioned cases
adjudicated delinquent
|
|
|
Total delinquency
|
624,400
|
|
66%
|
|
Person
|
142,300
|
|
63
|
|
Criminal homicide
|
700
|
|
54
|
|
Forcible rape
|
2,300
|
|
64
|
|
Robbery
|
13,000
|
|
67
|
|
Aggravated assault
|
24,100
|
|
66
|
|
Simple assault
|
85,800
|
|
62
|
|
Other violent sex offenses
|
6,400
|
|
65
|
|
Other person offenses
|
10,000
|
|
59
|
|
Property
|
243,800
|
|
67
|
|
Burglary
|
61,700
|
|
73
|
|
Larceny-theft
|
85,500
|
|
66
|
|
Motor vehicle theft
|
21,500
|
|
73
|
|
Arson
|
3,500
|
|
65
|
|
Vandalism
|
34,600
|
|
63
|
|
Trespassing
|
13,500
|
|
60
|
|
Stolen property offenses
|
11,000
|
|
63
|
|
Other property offenses
|
12,600
|
|
65
|
|
Drug law violations
|
80,200
|
|
68
|
|
Public order offenses
|
158,200
|
|
68
|
|
Obstruction of justice
|
93,600
|
|
74
|
|
Disorderly conduct
|
21,100
|
|
58
|
|
Weapons offenses
|
15,600
|
|
69
|
|
Liquor law violations
|
5,500
|
|
62
|
|
Nonviolent sex offenses
|
5,500
|
|
70
|
|
Other public order offenses
|
16,800
|
|
56
|
|
Violent Crime Index
|
40,100
|
|
66
|
|
Property Crime Index
|
172,100
|
|
69
|
- In 1985, 30% of all delinquency cases resulted in either adjudication of delinquency or waiver to criminal court. By 2000, this proportion had increased to 39%.
-
The likelihood of being adjudicated delinquent was greater for more serious offenses within the same general offense category. In 2000, for example, 66% of petitioned aggravated assault cases were adjudicated delinquent, compared with 62% of simple assault cases. Similarly, nearly three-quarters (73%) of petitioned burglary and motor vehicle theft cases were adjudicated delinquent, compared with 66% of larceny-theft and 65% of arson cases.
-
Between 1997 and 2000, the number of delinquency cases in which the youth was adjudicated delinquent leveled off at approximately 627,000 cases
- Between 1985 and 2000, drug offense cases had the greatest percent increase in the number adjudicated delinquent (268%), followed by public order cases (165%), person cases (156%), and property cases
(21%).
Offense profile of cases adjudicated delinquent:
| Most serious offense |
1985
|
2000
|
|
|
Person
|
16%
|
23%
|
|
Property
|
59
|
39
|
|
Drugs
|
6
|
13
|
|
Public order
|
18
|
25
|
|
Total
|
100%
|
100%
|
Note:
Detail may not total 100% because of
rounding.
|
-
Compared with 1985, the 2000 adjudicated delinquent caseload included greater proportions of public order, person, and drug offense cases and a smaller proportion of property offense cases.
The number of cases in which the youth was adjudicated delinquent increased 85% between 1985 and 2000

The number of cases adjudicated delinquent increased for all four general offense categories between 1985 and 2000

After increases in recent years, the likelihood of petitioned cases resulting in an adjudication of delinquency in 2000 was similar to the likelihood in 1985


-
Following a slight decline between the late 1980s and the mid-1990s, the likelihood of delinquency adjudication increased 7 percentage points between 1996 and 2000 (from 59% to 66%).
-
The likelihood of a delinquency adjudication was about the same in 2000 as in 1985 for property, drug, and public order offense cases. In contrast, the likelihood of a delinquency adjudication for person offense cases was greater in 2000 than in 1985
(63% vs. 57%).
-
Despite their increased likelihood of delinquency adjudication, person offense cases processed in 2000 were less likely to result in a delinquency adjudication than were cases in the other general offense categories. In fact, person offense cases were less likely to result in delinquency adjudication than property, drug, or public order offense cases each year between 1985 and 2000.
Age
-
In each year from 1985 through
2000, juveniles age 15 or younger were more likely than older juveniles to be adjudicated delinquent, regardless of offense.
-
Regardless of age, person offense cases were less likely than other offense categories to be adjudicated delinquentthis was true during each year between 1985 and 2000.
Gender
-
In each year from 1985 through
2000, petitioned person and property offense cases involving males were more likely to result in a delinquency adjudication than were cases involving females.
-
For both male and female juveniles, the likelihood of a delinquency adjudication increased more for person offense cases than for other offenses.
-
For females, public order offense cases were more likely to result in a delinquency adjudication than were any other offense category cases between 1987 and 1998.
The likelihood of delinquency adjudication varied by demographic group
Percentage of petitioned cases adjudicated delinquent by age group:
| |
15 or younger |
16 or older |
| Year |
All |
Person |
Property |
Drugs |
Public order |
All |
Person |
Property |
Drugs |
Public order |
|
| 1985 |
66% |
58% |
67% |
72% |
71% |
64% |
55% |
66% |
68% |
66% |
| 1986 |
65 |
59 |
66 |
70 |
68 |
63 |
56 |
65 |
66 |
64 |
| 1987 |
64 |
58 |
65 |
66 |
68 |
62 |
57 |
63 |
62 |
63 |
| 1988 |
62 |
55 |
63 |
62 |
66 |
59 |
54 |
61 |
57 |
61 |
| 1989 |
63 |
57 |
64 |
67 |
67 |
62 |
56 |
63 |
63 |
62 |
| 1990 |
61 |
56 |
62 |
63 |
65 |
59 |
53 |
61 |
56 |
60 |
| 1991 |
60 |
55 |
61 |
62 |
62 |
58 |
53 |
60 |
56 |
58 |
| 1992 |
59 |
54 |
60 |
60 |
62 |
57 |
53 |
59 |
57 |
57 |
| 1993 |
60 |
56 |
61 |
61 |
65 |
58 |
53 |
59 |
58 |
60 |
| 1994 |
60 |
56 |
60 |
60 |
63 |
57 |
53 |
58 |
57 |
59 |
| 1995 |
59 |
56 |
60 |
60 |
62 |
57 |
53 |
58 |
57 |
57 |
| 1996 |
60 |
56 |
61 |
62 |
62 |
57 |
54 |
58 |
58 |
58 |
| 1997 |
62 |
59 |
63 |
65 |
65 |
60 |
56 |
61 |
61 |
62 |
| 1998 |
65 |
63 |
66 |
67 |
65 |
62 |
59 |
64 |
63 |
62 |
| 1999 |
68 |
65 |
69 |
70 |
69 |
65 |
61 |
66 |
66 |
65 |
| 2000 |
68 |
64 |
68 |
70 |
70 |
65 |
61 |
66 |
67 |
66 |
Percentage of petitioned cases adjudicated delinquent by gender:
| |
Male
|
Female
|
|
Year
|
All |
Person
|
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public order
|
All
|
Person
|
Property |
Drugs
|
Public order
|
|
|
1985
|
66%
|
58%
|
67%
|
70%
|
69%
|
62%
|
51%
|
62%
|
66%
|
68%
|
|
1986
|
65
|
59
|
66
|
68
|
66
|
60
|
51
|
61
|
66
|
65
|
|
1987
|
64
|
58
|
65
|
64
|
66
|
59
|
53
|
59
|
60
|
65
|
|
1988
|
61
|
56
|
63
|
59
|
63
|
57
|
51
|
56
|
56
|
63
|
|
1989
|
63
|
58
|
64
|
65
|
65
|
58
|
52
|
58
|
61
|
63
|
|
1990
|
61
|
55
|
63
|
59
|
62
|
57
|
52
|
57
|
56
|
61
|
|
1991
|
60
|
55
|
61
|
58
|
60
|
54
|
49
|
54
|
55
|
58
|
|
1992
|
59
|
54
|
60
|
58
|
60
|
53
|
50
|
54
|
53
|
56
|
|
1993
|
60
|
56
|
61
|
59
|
63
|
55
|
51
|
54
|
55
|
61
|
|
1994
|
59
|
55
|
61
|
59
|
62
|
54
|
52
|
53
|
55
|
59
|
|
1995
|
59
|
55
|
60
|
59
|
60
|
54
|
51
|
53
|
56
|
58
|
|
1996
|
60
|
57
|
61
|
60
|
61
|
54
|
51
|
54
|
56
|
59
|
|
1997
|
62
|
59
|
63
|
63
|
63
|
57
|
54
|
56
|
60
|
62
|
|
1998
|
65
|
62
|
66
|
65
|
63
|
61
|
58
|
62
|
62
|
63
|
|
1999
|
67
|
64
|
68
|
67
|
67
|
64
|
61
|
64
|
68
|
67
|
|
2000
|
67
|
63
|
68
|
68
|
68
|
64
|
60
|
63
|
68
|
68
|
Percentage of petitioned cases adjudicated delinquent by race:
|
|
White
|
Black
|
|
Year
|
All |
Person
|
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public order
|
All
|
Person |
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public order
|
|
|
1985
|
67%
|
59%
|
68%
|
71%
|
70%
|
60%
|
53%
|
61%
|
65%
|
65%
|
|
1986
|
66
|
60
|
67
|
69
|
67
|
60
|
55
|
62
|
65
|
63
|
|
1987
|
65
|
59
|
65
|
66
|
67
|
59
|
56
|
60
|
60
|
62
|
|
1988
|
62
|
56
|
63
|
62
|
65
|
57
|
53
|
59
|
55
|
59
|
|
1989
|
63
|
58
|
64
|
64
|
66
|
60
|
55
|
61
|
65
|
62
|
|
1990
|
62
|
57
|
63
|
61
|
64
|
57
|
52
|
59
|
57
|
58
|
|
1991
|
60
|
55
|
61
|
60
|
60
|
56
|
52
|
57
|
57
|
58
|
|
1992
|
60
|
56
|
61
|
60
|
60
|
55
|
51
|
56
|
56
|
58
|
|
1993
|
62
|
58
|
62
|
61
|
65
|
55
|
51
|
55
|
57
|
59
|
|
1994
|
61
|
58
|
62
|
61
|
64
|
53
|
50
|
54
|
55
|
57
|
|
1995
|
60
|
57
|
60
|
60
|
61
|
54
|
51
|
54
|
56
|
56
|
|
1996
|
61
|
57
|
61
|
61
|
62
|
55
|
52
|
56
|
58
|
57
|
|
1997
|
63
|
59
|
63
|
64
|
64
|
58
|
55
|
58
|
59
|
60
|
|
1998
|
65
|
63
|
67
|
66
|
64
|
61
|
59
|
62
|
61
|
61
|
|
1999
|
68
|
66
|
69
|
70
|
68
|
63
|
60
|
65
|
63
|
65
|
|
2000
|
67
|
64
|
68
|
70
|
68
|
64
|
61
|
66
|
64
|
67
|
|
|
Other race
|
|
Year
|
All
|
Person
|
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public order
|
|
|
1985
|
73%
|
69%
|
74%
|
77%
|
73%
|
|
1986
|
73
|
67
|
74
|
74
|
75
|
|
1987
|
71
|
65
|
72
|
68
|
74
|
|
1988
|
68
|
63
|
68
|
65
|
71
|
|
1989
|
69
|
66
|
69
|
68
|
71
|
|
1990
|
70
|
64
|
71
|
69
|
73
|
|
1991
|
68
|
66
|
69
|
64
|
71
|
|
1992
|
67
|
64
|
68
|
68
|
65
|
|
1993
|
65
|
64
|
65
|
67
|
64
|
|
1994
|
65
|
65
|
65
|
71
|
65
|
|
1995
|
65
|
63
|
66
|
68
|
63
|
|
1996
|
64
|
61
|
65
|
64
|
67
|
|
1997
|
68
|
69
|
67
|
72
|
68
|
|
1998
|
67
|
66
|
67
|
73
|
67
|
|
1999
|
69
|
68
|
68
|
75
|
69
|
|
2000
|
67
|
64
|
67
|
70
|
68
|
Race
-
In each year between 1985 and
2000, cases involving black youth were less likely to result in a delinquency adjudication than were cases involving either white youth or youth of other races.
-
For white juveniles and black juveniles, the likelihood of a delinquency adjudication for person offense cases was greater in 2000 than in 1985.
-
For youth of other races, the likelihood of a delinquency adjudication was lower in 2000 than in 1985 across all offense categories.
-
Between 1985 and 2000, with few exceptions, petitioned cases involving youth of other races were more likely to result in a delinquency adjudication than cases involving either white youth or black youth.
Dispositions: Out-of-Home Placement
-
The number of drug offense cases adjudicated delinquent that resulted in out-of-home placement increased more than 200% between 1985 and 2000. During this period, the number of person and public order offense cases that resulted in out-of-home placement doubled. For property offense cases, the number of out-of-home placements did not change.
Offense profile of cases adjudicated delinquent resulting in out-of-home placement:
| Most serious offense |
1985
|
2000
|
|
|
Person
|
18%
|
24%
|
|
Property
|
55
|
36
|
|
Drugs
|
5
|
11
|
|
Public order
|
22
|
29
|
|
Total
|
100%
|
100%
|
| |
| Cases resulting in out-of-home placement |
100,000
|
149,200
|
Note:
Detail may not total 100% because of
rounding.
|
-
Property offense cases are the largest share of cases adjudicated delinquent that result in out-of-home placement.
-
The offense profile of cases resulting in out-of-home placement changed between 1985 and 2000. The proportion of out-of-home placement cases that involved person, drug, and public order offenses increased, while the proportion involving property offenses declined.
The number of cases adjudicated delinquent resulting in out-of-home placement increased between 1985 and 2000

Between 1985 and 2000, the number of out-of-home placements increased for person, drug, and public order offense cases and decreased for property offense cases

The court ordered out-of-home placement in 24% of all cases adjudicated delinquent in 2000, down from 30% in 1985

-
The relatively high rate of out-of-home placement in public order offense cases may be related to the fact that this offense category includes escapes from institutions, weapons offenses, and probation and parole violations.
-
Although the percentage of cases adjudicated delinquent resulting in out-of-home placement declined between 1985 and 2000 for all four of the major offense categories, the number of cases adjudicated delinquent resulting in out-of-home placement increased 49%.
Age
-
In each year from 1985 through
2000, person and property offense cases involving juveniles age 16 or older adjudicated delinquent were more likely to result in out-of-home placement than were cases involving youth age 15 or younger.
-
For youth age 15 or younger, the use of out-of-home placement declined more for public order offense cases than for any other offense category between 1985 and 2000. During that period, the likelihood of out-of-home placement fell 13 percentage points for public order offense cases (from
39% to 26%), compared with an 8- percentage point decline for person offense cases (from 31% to 23%).
Gender
-
Since 1985, person, property, and drug offense cases involving males adjudicated delinquent were more likely to result in out-of-home placement than were cases involving females.
-
For females, public order offense cases adjudicated delinquent were more likely to result in out-of-home placement than were other offense cases. This was true in each year between 1985 and 2000.
-
For both male and female juveniles, the use of out-of-home placement declined more for public order offense cases than for any other offense category between 1985 and 2000. During that period, the likelihood of out-of-home placement for public order offense cases fell 14 percentage points for females and 7 percentage points for males.
The likelihood of out-of-home placement declined between 1985 and 2000 for all demographic groups
Percentage of cases adjudicated delinquent resulting in out-of-home placement by age group:
|
|
15 or younger
|
16 or older
|
|
Year
|
All |
Person
|
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public order
|
All
|
Person
|
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public order
|
|
|
1985
|
30%
|
31%
|
27%
|
24%
|
39%
|
30%
|
33%
|
28%
|
22%
|
33%
|
|
1986
|
30
|
32
|
27
|
31
|
40
|
31
|
34
|
29
|
29
|
34
|
|
1987
|
30
|
31
|
27
|
34
|
40
|
30
|
32
|
28
|
29
|
35
|
|
1988
|
30
|
31
|
27
|
36
|
39
|
30
|
32
|
28
|
31
|
35
|
|
1989
|
31
|
33
|
27
|
38
|
40
|
31
|
34
|
28
|
34
|
36
|
|
1990
|
32
|
34
|
28
|
39
|
40
|
32
|
35
|
29
|
34
|
35
|
|
1991
|
30
|
34
|
26
|
39
|
38
|
30
|
35
|
27
|
34
|
32
|
|
1992
|
30
|
32
|
27
|
36
|
36
|
31
|
35
|
28
|
33
|
34
|
|
1993
|
28
|
30
|
25
|
32
|
32
|
29
|
33
|
27
|
29
|
30
|
|
1994
|
28
|
30
|
25
|
30
|
32
|
29
|
32
|
27
|
28
|
30
|
|
1995
|
26
|
28
|
24
|
25
|
31
|
27
|
31
|
26
|
23
|
29
|
|
1996
|
25
|
28
|
23
|
24
|
28
|
27
|
31
|
25
|
22
|
28
|
|
1997
|
24
|
26
|
22
|
22
|
28
|
26
|
30
|
25
|
21
|
29
|
|
1998
|
24
|
25
|
22
|
22
|
26
|
26
|
29
|
25
|
22
|
29
|
|
1999
|
23
|
24
|
21
|
21
|
26
|
26
|
28
|
24
|
22
|
28
|
|
2000
|
23
|
23
|
21
|
19
|
26
|
26
|
28
|
24
|
21
|
30
|
Percentage of cases adjudicated delinquent resulting in out-of-home placement by gender:
|
|
Male
|
Female
|
|
Year
|
All |
Person
|
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public order
|
All
|
Person |
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public order
|
|
|
1985
|
30%
|
33%
|
29%
|
23%
|
36%
|
26%
|
26%
|
21%
|
21%
|
37%
|
|
1986
|
31
|
34
|
29
|
30
|
37
|
26
|
25
|
21
|
27
|
38
|
|
1987
|
31
|
33
|
28
|
32
|
37
|
25
|
21
|
21
|
26
|
37
|
|
1988
|
31
|
33
|
28
|
34
|
37
|
24
|
22
|
20
|
29
|
35
|
|
1989
|
32
|
35
|
28
|
36
|
39
|
26
|
24
|
21
|
31
|
36
|
|
1990
|
33
|
36
|
29
|
37
|
38
|
26
|
24
|
21
|
33
|
36
|
|
1991
|
31
|
36
|
28
|
37
|
36
|
24
|
25
|
20
|
29
|
35
|
|
1992
|
31
|
35
|
28
|
35
|
35
|
24
|
25
|
20
|
29
|
32
|
|
1993
|
29
|
33
|
27
|
31
|
32
|
22
|
24
|
19
|
26
|
28
|
|
1994
|
29
|
33
|
27
|
29
|
32
|
22
|
22
|
20
|
25
|
27
|
|
1995
|
28
|
31
|
26
|
24
|
31
|
20
|
21
|
18
|
16
|
26
|
|
1996
|
27
|
31
|
25
|
24
|
29
|
20
|
21
|
17
|
17
|
23
|
|
1997
|
27
|
30
|
25
|
22
|
30
|
19
|
20
|
16
|
15
|
24
|
|
1998
|
26
|
29
|
25
|
23
|
29
|
19
|
19
|
16
|
16
|
23
|
|
1999
|
25
|
27
|
24
|
23
|
28
|
18
|
19
|
15
|
15
|
23
|
|
2000
|
25
|
27
|
24
|
21
|
29
|
19
|
20
|
15
|
14
|
23
|
Percentage of cases adjudicated delinquent resulting in out-of-home placement by race:
|
|
White
|
Black
|
|
Year
|
All |
Person
|
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public order
|
All
|
Person |
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public order
|
|
|
1985
|
29%
|
31%
|
27%
|
21%
|
37%
|
31%
|
32%
|
29%
|
28%
|
36%
|
|
1986
|
29
|
30
|
27
|
26
|
37
|
34
|
36
|
31
|
38
|
37
|
|
1987
|
29
|
30
|
26
|
27
|
37
|
33
|
34
|
31
|
37
|
38
|
|
1988
|
29
|
30
|
26
|
29
|
37
|
33
|
32
|
30
|
38
|
37
|
|
1989
|
30
|
33
|
26
|
31
|
38
|
33
|
34
|
30
|
40
|
38
|
|
1990
|
30
|
33
|
26
|
31
|
38
|
35
|
37
|
32
|
41
|
38
|
|
1991
|
27
|
31
|
24
|
30
|
35
|
35
|
37
|
32
|
40
|
36
|
|
1992
|
27
|
31
|
24
|
29
|
34
|
34
|
36
|
32
|
38
|
35
|
|
1993
|
25
|
28
|
23
|
24
|
30
|
33
|
35
|
32
|
36
|
33
|
|
1994
|
25
|
28
|
24
|
23
|
29
|
33
|
35
|
31
|
35
|
34
|
|
1995
|
24
|
27
|
23
|
18
|
29
|
31
|
31
|
30
|
31
|
33
|
|
1996
|
23
|
27
|
22
|
17
|
26
|
31
|
32
|
29
|
32
|
33
|
|
1997
|
23
|
26
|
22
|
16
|
27
|
30
|
30
|
28
|
31
|
33
|
|
1998
|
23
|
26
|
22
|
16
|
26
|
29
|
28
|
26
|
33
|
31
|
|
1999
|
22
|
25
|
21
|
16
|
26
|
28
|
27
|
25
|
32
|
29
|
|
2000
|
23
|
25
|
21
|
16
|
27
|
27
|
26
|
25
|
31
|
29
|
| |
Other race
|
|
Year
|
All |
Person
|
Property
|
Public
|
Public order
|
|
|
1985
|
32%
|
35%
|
28%
|
32%
|
40%
|
|
1986
|
31
|
35
|
28
|
33
|
37
|
|
1987
|
30
|
34
|
27
|
31
|
36
|
|
1988
|
30
|
31
|
28
|
26
|
35
|
|
1989
|
33
|
35
|
30
|
30
|
39
|
|
1990
|
32
|
34
|
30
|
37
|
38
|
|
1991
|
34
|
41
|
30
|
43
|
38
|
|
1992
|
37
|
41
|
35
|
32
|
40
|
|
1993
|
33
|
40
|
31
|
20
|
34
|
|
1994
|
32
|
37
|
31
|
28
|
33
|
|
1995
|
28
|
32
|
27
|
23
|
30
|
|
1996
|
29
|
37
|
27
|
25
|
29
|
|
1997
|
26
|
28
|
25
|
16
|
28
|
|
1998
|
26
|
31
|
26
|
19
|
25
|
|
1999
|
24
|
28
|
24
|
15
|
24
|
|
2000
|
22
|
25
|
22
|
20
|
22
|
Race
-
In each year between 1995 and
2000, property, drug, and public order offense cases involving black juveniles adjudicated delinquent were more likely to result in out-of-home placement than were cases involving white juveniles or youth of other races.
- With one exception, the proportion of cases adjudicated delinquent that resulted in out-of-home placement was smaller in 2000 than in 1985 for all races and across all offenses.
-
Counter to the general decline in the use of out-of-home placement, the likelihood of out-of-home placement for drug offense cases involving black juveniles adjudicated delinquent was greater in 2000
(31%) than in 1985 (28%).
Dispositions: Probation
-
Overall, between 1985 and 2000, the number of cases adjudicated delinquent that resulted in an order of probation more than doubled, compared with a 49% increase in the number of cases resulting in out-of-home placement. This demonstrates the juvenile court's relatively greater use of community sanctions in 2000 than in 1985.
-
Since 1985, the largest percent increase in the number of cases adjudicated delinquent that received probation was for drug offense cases
(267%), followed by public order offenses (214%), person offenses
(193%), and property offenses
(38%).
Offense profile of cases adjudicated delinquent that resulted in probation:
| Most serious offense |
1985
|
2000
|
|
|
Person
|
16%
|
23%
|
|
Property
|
61
|
40
|
|
Drugs
|
7
|
13
|
|
Public order
|
16
|
24
|
|
Total
|
100%
|
100%
|
| |
|
|
| Cases resulting in formal probation |
189,500
|
393,300
|
Note: Detail may not total 100% because of
rounding.
|
-
In 2000, 40% of cases adjudicated delinquent that resulted in probation involved property offenses.
-
The offense characteristics of cases adjudicated delinquent that resulted in probation changed somewhat between 1985 and 2000, with an increase in the proportion of cases involving person, drug, and public order offenses and a decrease in the proportion involving property offenses.
The number of cases adjudicated delinquent that resulted in a disposition of probation increased 108% between 1985 and 2000

The number of cases adjudicated delinquent that resulted in a disposition of probation increased for all offense categories between 1985 and 2000

Probation remains the most likely sanction imposed by juvenile courts


-
Probation was the most restrictive disposition used in 393,300 cases adjudicated delinquent in 200063% of all such cases handled by juvenile courts.
-
The likelihood of probation for cases adjudicated delinquent increased for person, property, and public order offense categories between 1985 and 2000.
-
Counter to the pattern for the other offense categories, the use of probation for drug offense cases adjudicated delinquent was the same in
2000 as in 1985.
Age
-
Once adjudicated delinquent, younger juveniles were more likely than older juveniles to be placed on probation. In 2000, 66% of cases involving youth age 15 or younger adjudicated delinquent resulted in probation, compared with 59% for youth age 16 or older.
-
For both age groups, cases involving property offenses were generally more likely than cases in other offense categories to result in probation following a delinquency adjudication.
Gender
-
For all offenses, females were more likely to be placed on probation following a delinquency adjudication than were males. In 2000, probation was ordered in 68% of cases adjudicated delinquent involving females and 62% of those involving males.
-
For males, property offense cases adjudicated delinquent were more likely to result in probation than any other offense between 1989 and 2000.
Between 1985 and 2000, the likelihood of probation increased for all demographic groups
Percentage of cases adjudicated delinquent resulting in probation by age group:
|
|
15 or younger
|
16 or older
|
|
Year
|
All |
Person
|
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public order
|
All
|
Person
|
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public order
|
|
|
1985
|
57%
|
57%
|
59%
|
64%
|
51%
|
54%
|
53%
|
55%
|
62%
|
50%
|
|
1986
|
57
|
58
|
59
|
59
|
50
|
53
|
53
|
54
|
58
|
49
|
|
1987
|
57
|
56
|
60
|
58
|
50
|
53
|
51
|
54
|
59
|
48
|
|
1988
|
57
|
56
|
59
|
57
|
51
|
53
|
51
|
54
|
56
|
49
|
|
1989
|
57
|
56
|
59
|
54
|
51
|
53
|
50
|
55
|
53
|
49
|
|
1990
|
57
|
56
|
60
|
54
|
52
|
54
|
52
|
56
|
55
|
52
|
|
1991
|
57
|
55
|
60
|
52
|
52
|
54
|
51
|
56
|
50
|
51
|
|
1992
|
57
|
56
|
59
|
54
|
53
|
52
|
50
|
55
|
51
|
49
|
|
1993
|
56
|
56
|
58
|
53
|
53
|
51
|
49
|
53
|
51
|
49
|
|
1994
|
56
|
55
|
57
|
54
|
52
|
50
|
49
|
52
|
50
|
47
|
|
1995
|
57
|
56
|
58
|
57
|
52
|
51
|
49
|
53
|
52
|
47
|
|
1996
|
60
|
58
|
62
|
59
|
57
|
53
|
51
|
55
|
54
|
50
|
|
1997
|
62
|
62
|
63
|
63
|
57
|
55
|
55
|
57
|
58
|
51
|
|
1998
|
63
|
63
|
65
|
65
|
61
|
56
|
55
|
58
|
58
|
52
|
|
1999
|
66
|
65
|
67
|
66
|
64
|
58
|
58
|
60
|
60
|
55
|
|
2000
|
66
|
66
|
67
|
66
|
65
|
59
|
59
|
61
|
60
|
55
|
Percentage of cases adjudicated delinquent resulting in probation by gender:
|
|
Male
|
Female
|
|
Year
|
All |
Person
|
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public order
|
All
|
Person
|
Property |
Drugs
|
Public order
|
|
|
1985
|
56%
|
55%
|
57%
|
62%
|
50%
|
58%
|
59%
|
60%
|
64%
|
51%
|
|
1986
|
55
|
55
|
57
|
58
|
50
|
57
|
60
|
60
|
61
|
49
|
|
1987
|
55
|
53
|
57
|
58
|
49
|
57
|
61
|
59
|
64
|
50
|
|
1988
|
54
|
53
|
56
|
56
|
49
|
58
|
59
|
60
|
59
|
52
|
|
1989
|
54
|
52
|
57
|
53
|
49
|
59
|
60
|
61
|
60
|
53
|
|
1990
|
55
|
53
|
58
|
54
|
51
|
60
|
63
|
62
|
59
|
53
|
|
1991
|
55
|
52
|
58
|
50
|
51
|
60
|
61
|
63
|
57
|
54
|
|
1992
|
54
|
52
|
57
|
51
|
50
|
60
|
60
|
62
|
59
|
55
|
|
1993
|
53
|
52
|
55
|
51
|
50
|
59
|
59
|
60
|
56
|
56
|
|
1994
|
52
|
51
|
55
|
51
|
49
|
58
|
60
|
59
|
58
|
54
|
|
1995
|
53
|
52
|
55
|
53
|
49
|
59
|
60
|
60
|
59
|
54
|
|
1996
|
56
|
54
|
58
|
56
|
53
|
61
|
63
|
63
|
61
|
57
|
|
1997
|
58
|
57
|
60
|
59
|
53
|
63
|
67
|
65
|
65
|
58
|
|
1998
|
59
|
58
|
61
|
60
|
55
|
65
|
67
|
66
|
66
|
61
|
|
1999
|
61
|
61
|
63
|
61
|
58
|
67
|
68
|
69
|
68
|
63
|
|
2000
|
62
|
62
|
64
|
62
|
59
|
68
|
69
|
70
|
66
|
64
|
Percentage of cases adjudicated delinquent resulting in probation by race:
|
|
White
|
Black
|
|
Year
|
All |
Person
|
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public order
|
All
|
Person |
Property
|
Drugs
|
Public order
|
|
|
1985
|
55%
|
55%
|
56%
|
62%
|
49%
|
58%
|
56%
|
60%
|
63%
|
54%
|
|
1986
|
55
|
56
|
57
|
60
|
48
|
57
|
55
|
59
|
55
|
54
|
|
1987
|
56
|
56
|
57
|
60
|
48
|
55
|
52
|
58
|
56
|
51
|
|
1988
|
55
|
55
|
57
|
58
|
48
|
55
|
52
|
57
|
54
|
53
|
|
1989
|
56
|
55
|
57
|
58
|
49
|
54
|
52
|
57
|
50
|
52
|
|
1990
|
57
|
56
|
58
|
59
|
51
|
55
|
53
|
58
|
51
|
53
|
|
1991
|
57
|
55
|
59
|
54
|
50
|
55
|
52
|
59
|
48
|
54
|
|
1992
|
56
|
55
|
58
|
55
|
50
|
55
|
53
|
57
|
49
|
54
|
|
1993
|
55
|
55
|
57
|
54
|
50
|
53
|
5 | |