A Message From OJJDP OJJDP developed the Juvenile Residential Facility Census (JRFC) to collect information about the facilities in which juvenile offenders are held. The census is designed to collect information on such characteristics as type, size, structure, security arrangements, and ownership. The biannual survey also examines a range of services provided to youth in residential facilities. In keeping with OJJDP’s congressional mandate, JRFC also reports on the number of deaths of juveniles in custody. This Bulletin presents findings from the 2002 JRFC—findings that are generally positive.JRFC data indicate that the number of juvenile offenders in custody nationwide decreased 7% between 2000 and 2002; decreases averaging 13% were seen in 36 states, while 12 states had increases averaging 11%. The number of youth who died in custody also declined between 2000 and 2002, from 30 to 26; deaths of youth in custody were substantially fewer than would be expected if the death rate for these youth were the same as that for youth in the general U.S. population. JRFC data suggest that crowding is a problem in a significant number of residential facilities, but there are signs of improvement. In 2002, 30% of the facilities reported residential populations at the limit of available standard beds, and 6% had more residents than standard beds. Facilities that were at or over capacity held 34% of residents in 2002, down from 40% in 2000. JRFC alternates with the biannual Census of Juveniles in Residential Placement, which gathers information on youth in custody. In developing its data collection efforts in this area, OJJDP seeks to support the vital role of corrections in maintaining the safety of the community and providing essential services to confined youth. J. Robert Flores
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