Juvenile Court Statistics 2003-2004

Chapter 3
National Estimates of Delinquency Case Processing (continued)

Adjudication

In 1985, 29% of all delinquency cases resulted in either adjudication of delinquency or waiver to criminal court. By 2004, this proportion had increased to 38%.
Between 1985 and 2004, the number of delinquency cases that resulted in a delinquency adjudication or were judicially waived to criminal court increased 89% and the number of formally handled cases that were not adjudicated delinquent increased 65%.
The likelihood of being adjudicated delinquent was greater for more serious offenses within the same general offense category.
Within the 2004 person offense category, 65% of petitioned aggravated assault cases were adjudicated delinquent, compared with 61% of simple assault cases.
In the property offense category in 2004, 75% of petitioned burglary cases were adjudicated delinquent, compared with 70% of motor vehicle theft cases and 67% of larceny-theft cases.
Among public order offenses in 2004, 70% of the weapons violations cases were adjudicated delinquent, compared with 62% of disorderly conduct cases and liquor law violation cases.
Beginning in 1988 and continuing through 2000, the annual number of delinquency cases in which the youth was adjudicated delinquent steadily increased from 338,900 to 650,500 and then declined to 628,600 in 2004.
The number of adjudicated person offense cases increased 171% between 1985 and 2004 (54,700 vs. 148,300).
The number of adjudicated cases involving property offenses increased 41% between 1985 and its peak in 1997 then declined 20% by 2004 for an overall increase of 13%.
Between 1985 and 2001, the number of adjudicated drug offense cases increased 286% (from 21,200 to 81,900) then declined 7% by 2004.
Between 1991 and 2004, the number of public order offense cases adjudicated delinquent increased 179%, from 65,100 cases to 181,400 cases.

Offense profile of cases adjudicated delinquent:

Most serious offense	1985	2004

Person	17%	24%
Property	59	35
Drugs	6	12
Public order	18	29
Total	100%	100%
Note: Detail may not total 100% because of rounding.

Compared with 1985, the 2004 adjudicated delinquent caseload included greater proportions of person, public order, and drug offense cases and a substantially smaller proportion of property offense cases.

Between 1985 and 2004, the number of cases in which the youth was adjudicated delinquent increased 90% (from 331,000 to 628,600)

Figure showing the total number of cases adjudicated delinquent for each year between 1985 and 2004.

Between 2000 and 2004, the number of cases adjudicated delinquent increased for cases involving person and public order offenses but decreased for cases involving property and drug offenses

Figure showing cases adjudicated delinquent for person, property, drug, and public order offenses between 2000 and 2004.

Between 1995 and 2004, the likelihood of petitioned cases resulting in a delinquency adjudication increased from 55% to 67%

Five figures showing percent of juvenile court cases adjudicated delinquent, by offense category, 1985-2004.

The likelihood of delinquency adjudication decreased from 63% to 55% between 1985 and 1995 and then increased to 67% in 2004.
In 2004, the likelihood of a delinquency adjudication for cases involving property, drug, and public order offenses was about the same as in 1985. However, for cases involving a person offense, the likelihood of a delinquency adjudication was somewhat greater in 2004 than in 1985 (62% vs. 56%).
Among the four general offense categories, person offense cases were least likely to result in delinquency adjudication for all years between 1985 and 2004.
The likelihood of adjudication among cases involving a property offense decreased from 66% to 56% between 1985 and 1995 then increased to 68% in 2004.
The likelihood of adjudication among drug offense cases decreased from 67% to 54% between 1985 and 1995 and then increased to 68% in 2004.
Among public order cases, the likelihood of adjudication decreased from 67% to 57% between 1985 and 1995 and then increased to 69% in 2004.

Age

In each year from 1985 through 2004, 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 delinquent for each year between 1985 and 2004.
Between 1985 and 1995, the likelihood of adjudication for drug offense cases involving juveniles 15 or younger decreased from 69% to 56%. After 1995, the likelihood increased. In 2004, 71% of drug offense cases involving juveniles under age 16 resulted in a delinquency adjudication.
For drug offense cases involving juveniles age 16 and older, the likelihood of adjudication decreased from 65% to 53% between 1985 and 1995. Similar to the trend for younger youth, the proportion of drug offense cases adjudicated delinquent increased to 67% in 2004 for older juveniles.

Gender

Between 1985 and 2004, male cases generally were more likely to be adjudicated delinquent than were female cases.
In each year from 2001 through 2004, however, petitioned drug offense cases involving females were as likely or more likely to result in a delinquency adjudication compared with cases involving males.
Between 1985 and 2004, for both male and female juveniles, the likelihood of a delinquency adjudication increased more for person offense cases than for other offenses; however, the increase was greater for females (from 50% to 59%) than for males (57% to 64%).

Between 1997 and 2004, cases involving younger juveniles were more likely to be adjudicated delinquent than those involving older juveniles, regardless of offense category

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	64%	57%	65%	69%	70%	62%	54%	64%	65%	64%
1986	63	55	64	68	66	60	53	62	63	62
1987	61	54	62	65	65	59	52	60	60	60
1988	58	51	60	61	63	56	50	58	55	58
1989	60	54	61	65	65	59	53	60	61	60
1990	59	54	61	62	63	57	52	60	56	58
1991	57	52	59	59	60	55	51	57	53	56
1992	57	53	59	57	60	55	51	57	53	55
1993	58	53	59	58	61	55	50	57	53	57
1994	58	53	59	58	61	54	50	56	53	56
1995	56	53	57	56	60	53	49	55	53	54
1996	59	54	59	60	62	56	52	56	57	57
1997	61	56	61	64	63	58	54	59	60	60
1998	63	60	64	66	64	60	57	61	61	61
1999	65	62	66	69	68	63	59	63	65	64
2000	69	64	70	72	72	67	61	67	68	69
2001	68	64	69	71	71	66	61	67	67	69
2002	69	64	70	70	71	66	61	67	67	68
2003	69	64	70	71	70	66	61	67	67	68
2004	68	63	69	71	69	66	61	67	67	68

Percentage of petitioned cases adjudicated delinquent by gender:

	Male					Female
Year	All	Person	Property	Drugs	Public order	All	Person	Property	Drugs	Public order

1985	64%	57%	65%	67%	67%	60%	50%	60%	64%	67%
1986	62	56	64	65	64	57	47	58	64	62
1987	61	54	62	62	63	56	49	56	58	63
1988	58	51	60	57	60	53	44	53	54	61
1989	61	55	62	63	63	55	47	55	59	61
1990	59	54	61	58	61	55	49	55	55	60
1991	57	53	59	55	58	51	46	52	52	57
1992	57	53	59	55	58	52	48	53	51	56
1993	57	53	59	55	60	52	48	52	52	58
1994	57	53	59	55	59	52	48	52	53	57
1995	56	52	57	55	57	51	47	51	51	57
1996	58	55	59	59	60	53	48	53	54	58
1997	61	57	61	62	62	56	51	55	60	60
1998	63	60	64	63	62	59	55	59	60	62
1999	65	62	66	66	66	61	57	61	65	65
2000	69	64	70	70	71	66	60	66	69	70
2001	68	64	69	69	70	65	60	66	69	69
2002	68	64	70	68	70	65	60	66	69	69
2003	68	64	70	68	70	65	60	66	69	68
2004	68	64	69	68	69	65	59	65	70	67

Percentage of petitioned cases adjudicated delinquent by race:

	White					Black
Year	All	Person	Property	Drugs	Public order	All	Person	Property	Drugs	Public order

1985	66%	58%	67%	69%	69%	58%	52%	60%	62%	62%
1986	64	57	65	67	65	57	51	58	62	60
1987	62	56	63	64	64	55	50	56	58	59
1988	60	54	61	60	62	53	46	54	54	56
1989	62	56	62	64	64	56	50	56	62	59
1990	61	56	62	61	63	54	49	57	56	55
1991	58	54	60	58	59	53	49	54	53	56
1992	58	54	59	59	59	53	49	54	52	55
1993	59	55	60	58	61	52	48	53	52	56
1994	59	55	59	59	61	51	48	52	50	55
1995	57	53	58	57	59	51	48	52	50	54
1996	58	55	59	59	60	55	51	55	57	58
1997	61	57	61	63	62	57	53	57	60	61
1998	63	60	64	65	63	59	56	59	60	61
1999	66	63	66	68	66	61	57	62	63	65
2000	70	65	70	71	72	64	59	65	66	68
2001	70	65	70	71	72	63	59	63	62	66
2002	70	66	71	71	71	62	59	63	60	66
2003	70	65	71	71	71	62	59	63	62	65
2004	70	65	71	72	71	61	58	62	60	64

	Amercian Indian					Asian/NHPI
Year	All	Person	Property	Drugs	Public order	All	Person	Property	Drugs	Public order

1985	70%	69%	71%	74%	68%	58%	59%	57%	52%	63%
1986	71	69	70	69	74	58	52	58	49	66
1987	70	69	70	67	72	58	50	58	53	67
1988	64	64	64	68	63	53	46	53	53	64
1989	68	69	69	66	67	57	50	57	54	65
1990	69	67	69	70	70	58	50	59	44	66
1991	64	67	64	64	63	54	48	55	40	62
1992	61	62	63	55	56	63	57	67	57	59
1993	58	56	58	60	60	63	64	64	70	53
1994	59	62	57	63	60	58	58	58	58	56
1995	63	64	63	61	64	53	50	52	47	59
1996	62	60	62	63	63	54	50	54	48	61
1997	63	63	63	69	62	55	55	55	53	59
1998	62	61	63	65	60	57	54	57	55	62
1999	63	64	63	65	61	61	61	62	55	61
2000	73	70	74	75	73	68	64	69	65	72
2001	76	73	77	74	77	66	62	66	64	69
2002	78	78	79	74	77	68	66	70	65	69
2003	78	75	80	74	79	71	70	72	67	71
2004	78	76	78	77	78	70	68	72	67	71

Race

In each year between 1985 and 2004, delinquency cases involving black youth were less likely to result in a delinquency adjudication than were cases involving white youth, regardless of offense.
For black juveniles, the likelihood of a delinquency adjudication decreased between 1985 and 1994 (from 58% to 51%) and then increased to 64% in 2000. In 2004, the likelihood of adjudication was 61%.
For delinquency cases involving white juveniles, the likelihood of a delinquency adjudication decreased between 1985 and 1995 (from 66% to 57%) and then increased to 70% by 2000 where it remained through 2004.
Regardless of offense, for each year between 2001 and 2004, cases involving black juveniles were less likely to result in adjudication than were cases involving youth in any of the other racial categories.
The likelihood of a delinquency adjudication for drug offense cases was lower in 2004 than in 1985 for cases involving black youth, but higher for white youth, American Indian youth, and Asian/NHPI youth.

Dispositions: Out-of-Home Placement

The number of cases adjudicated delinquent that resulted in out-ofhome placement increased 34% between 1985 and 2004. During this period, the number of cases involving the use of out-of-home placement increased 157% for drug offense cases, 101% for public order offense cases, and 86% for person offense cases, but decreased 20% for property offense cases.
The number of cases involving outof- home placement peaked in 1997 at 175,900 cases then decreased 20% by 2004. Between 1997 and 2004, the number of cases resulting in out-of-home placement decreased 14% for cases involving person offenses, 34% for property offense cases, 25% for drug offense cases, and remained unchanged for cases involving public order offenses.
Public order offense cases include escapes from institutions, weapons offenses, and probation and parole violations. This may help to explain the relatively high number of public order offense cases involving out-of-home placement.

Offense profile of cases adjudicated delinquent resulting in out-of-home placement:

Most serious offense	1985	2004

Person	18%	25%
Property	56	34
Drugs	5	10
Public order	21	31
Total	100%	100%
Cases resulting in out-of-home placement	105,200	140,700
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, although the proportion declined substantially between 1985 and 2004.

The number of cases adjudicated delinquent resulting in out-ofhome placement increased 67% between 1985 and 1997 and then decreased 20% through 2004

Figure showing the number of cases adjudicated delinquent and resulting in out-of-home placement between 1985 and 2004.

The number of property offense cases adjudicated delinquent that resulted in out-of-home placement decreased 34% between 1997 and 2004

Figure showing the number of cases adjudicated delinquent and resulting in out-of-home placement between 1985 and 2004 for person, property, drug, and public order offenses.

The court ordered out-of-home placement in 22% of all cases adjudicated delinquent in 2004, down from 32% in 1985

Five figures showing percent of adjudicated delinquent cases resulting in out-of-home placement, by offense category, 1985-2004.

Although the likelihood that an adjudicated case would result in out-ofhome placement decreased between 1985 and 2004 for each of the four major offense categories, the number of cases adjudicated delinquent resulting in out-of-home placement increased 34%.
Between 1985 and 2004, the largest decline in the proportion of adjudicated cases resulting in out-of-home placement was seen in cases involving public order offenses (from 38% to 24%). The proportion also decreased for person offense cases (from 35% to 24%), for property offense cases (from 30% to 21%), and for drug offense cases (from 25% to 18%).

Age

In each year from 1996 through 2004, cases involving juveniles age 16 or older adjudicated delinquent were more likely to result in out-ofhome placement than were cases involving youth age 15 or younger, regardless of offense.
Between 1985 and 2004, the use of out-of-home placement declined for both younger youth and older youth across all four general offense categories. The declines for younger youth were greater than those for older youth.

Gender

For each year between 1985 and 2002, 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.
Between 1985 and 2004, the use of out-of-home placement declined more for public order offense cases than for any other offense category for both males (12 percentage points) and females (17 percentage points).
For males in 2004, person offense and public order offense cases adjudicated delinquent were most likely to result in out-of-home placement (26%, each), followed by property cases (23%) and cases involving drug offenses (19%).
For females in 2004, adjudicated public order offense cases were most likely to result in out-of-home placement (21%), followed by person cases (18%), property cases (15%), and drug offense cases (12%).

Between 1985 and 2004, the likelihood of out-of-home placement declined more for younger than older youth and more for females than males

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	32%	35%	30%	26%	40%	31%	36%	30%	24%	35%
1986	32	34	28	32	41	32	36	31	31	35
1987	31	33	28	34	41	32	35	30	30	36
1988	32	34	28	36	40	32	35	30	33	36
1989	33	35	29	39	42	33	37	29	36	38
1990	32	35	29	39	40	32	37	29	35	36
1991	31	36	27	40	38	31	37	28	37	32
1992	30	34	27	38	35	31	36	28	35	34
1993	29	32	26	34	33	30	35	27	32	32
1994	29	31	27	31	32	30	35	28	31	31
1995	28	31	26	27	32	29	34	27	25	31
1996	28	31	25	27	31	30	35	28	28	32
1997	27	29	25	25	31	30	34	28	26	33
1998	26	28	24	23	30	29	32	27	26	32
1999	25	26	23	23	28	28	31	27	25	30
2000	24	26	23	21	27	27	31	25	23	30
2001	23	25	22	19	25	27	30	25	22	29
2002	22	24	21	17	24	26	30	25	21	28
2003	22	24	20	18	23	26	29	24	21	27
2004	21	22	20	15	23	24	28	23	19	26

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	32%	36%	31%	25%	38%	28%	29%	23%	22%	38%
1986	33	36	30	32	38	28	28	23	28	39
1987	32	36	29	32	39	27	25	23	26	38
1988	33	36	30	35	39	27	26	22	29	36
1989	34	37	30	38	40	27	26	23	31	37
1990	33	38	30	37	38	27	26	23	31	36
1991	32	38	29	39	36	26	27	21	30	34
1992	32	36	28	37	35	25	27	21	28	31
1993	31	35	28	34	34	23	26	20	27	28
1994	31	35	28	32	33	23	24	20	24	27
1995	30	34	28	27	33	22	24	19	18	27
1996	30	35	28	29	33	21	23	19	19	25
1997	30	33	28	27	33	21	23	18	16	26
1998	29	32	26	26	33	20	22	18	16	25
1999	28	30	26	26	30	20	21	17	17	24
2000	27	29	25	23	30	20	21	16	14	24
2001	26	29	25	22	29	19	20	16	13	22
2002	25	28	24	21	27	18	20	15	14	21
2003	25	28	24	21	26	18	20	15	15	21
2004	24	26	23	19	26	17	18	15	12	21

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	31%	34%	29%	22%	38%	34%	37%	33%	32%	38%
1986	30	32	28	27	38	36	39	33	40	39
1987	30	31	27	28	38	35	37	32	37	39
1988	30	32	27	30	38	36	37	33	39	39
1989	31	33	27	31	39	37	39	32	43	41
1990	30	34	27	30	38	37	39	33	42	39
1991	28	32	25	31	35	37	40	33	43	37
1992	28	32	25	30	34	36	38	33	42	36
1993	27	30	24	26	31	35	37	33	40	35
1994	27	30	25	24	30	35	37	33	39	36
1995	26	29	24	20	30	34	35	32	36	36
1996	26	29	24	19	28	36	37	32	41	38
1997	26	28	24	18	30	35	35	32	39	37
1998	25	28	23	18	29	33	33	30	38	36
1999	24	27	23	18	27	31	30	28	38	32
2000	24	27	22	17	27	29	29	27	35	31
2001	23	25	22	16	26	29	29	26	35	30
2002	22	25	22	16	25	27	27	24	32	29
2003	22	25	21	16	24	27	27	25	32	27
2004	21	23	20	14	23	25	25	24	27	27

	American Indian					Asia/NHPI
Year	All	Person	Property	Drugs	Public order	All	Person	Property	Drugs	Public order

1985	42%	48%	40%	41%	43%	27%	35%	23%	21%	31%
1986	40	45	37	34	44	25	31	22	21	28
1987	36	39	34	30	44	23	34	20	25	24
1988	36	34	35	39	39	23	27	23	20	24
1989	39	46	37	24	42	26	32	23	23	29
1990	39	41	39	27	39	27	30	25	35	27
1991	38	44	37	39	40	31	38	32	33	22
1992	39	40	39	23	38	38	45	38	36	30
1993	29	37	28	17	24	39	44	37	34	39
1994	29	33	29	18	23	38	45	36	38	33
1995	28	32	28	17	25	29	32	32	19	19
1996	26	32	28	16	20	26	29	27	31	18
1997	24	26	26	14	21	24	26	23	24	25
1998	27	35	30	17	19	23	22	23	21	22
1999	28	33	30	15	24	26	26	27	21	25
2000	26	33	28	20	21	26	26	27	20	26
2001	31	38	32	18	28	24	27	23	21	25
2002	28	36	29	16	26	23	26	24	18	20
2003	31	37	32	22	29	23	28	25	15	18
2004	31	36	33	19	29	21	25	21	15	19

Race

After adjudication, the likelihood of out-of-home placement in 2004 was greater for American Indian youth (31%) than for black juveniles (25%) or white or Asian/NHPI youth (21% each).
The proportion of cases adjudicated delinquent that resulted in out-ofhome placement was smaller in 2004 than in 1985 for all races and across all offenses.
For adjudicated person offense cases involving white youth, the likelihood of out-of-home placement decreased 11 percentage points from 34% in 1985 to 23% in 2004; the decrease was somewhat smaller for Asian/NHPI youth (from 35% to 25%), and somewhat larger for black youth (from 37% to 25%) and for American Indian youth (from 48% to 36%).
In each year between 1986 and 2004, drug offense cases involving black juveniles adjudicated delinquent were more likely to result in out-of-home placement than were drug cases involving juveniles of any other races.
For adjudicated public order cases, the use of out-of home placement decreased 15 percentage points between 1985 and 2004 for white juveniles, 14 for American Indian youth, 12 for Asian/NHPI youth, and 11 for black juveniles.

Dispositions: Probation

Between 1985 and 2002, the number of cases adjudicated delinquent resulting in an order of probation increased 109%, compared with a 34% increase in the number of cases resulting in out-of-home placement.
Since 1985, the largest percent increase in the number of cases adjudicated delinquent receiving probation has been for drug offense cases (276%), followed by public order offenses (250%), person offenses (206%), and property offenses (25%).
Between 2000 and 2004, the number of adjudicated cases resulting in an order of probation increased 6% for person offense cases (from 89,900 to 95,100) and 7% for public order offense cases (from 97,200 to 104,400). For the same time period, the number of adjudicated cases resulting in an order of probation decreased 9% for property offense cases (from 157,000 to 142,400) and 2% for drug offense cases (from 52,200 to 51,100).
The number of adjudicated cases resulting in probation was higher in 2004 than in any year since 1985 for person offenses and public order offenses.

Between 2000 and 2004, the number of cases adjudicated delinquent that resulted in probation remained relatively unchanged

Figure showing number of cases adjudicated delinquent and resulting in probation between 1985 and 2004.

Between 2000 and 2004, the number of adjudicated cases resulting in probation increased for person and public order offense cases but decreased for property and drug offense cases

Figure showing number of cases adjudicated delinquent and resulting in probation between 1985 and 2004 by person, property, drug, and public order offenses.

Probation remains the most likely sanction imposed by juvenile courts

Five figures showing percent of adjudicated delinquent cases resulting in probation, by offense, 1985-2004.

Probation was the most restrictive disposition used in 63% (393,100) of the cases adjudicated delinquent in 2004, compared with 57% (188,400) of the adjudicated caseload in 1985.
Between 1985 and 2004, the likelihood of probation for cases adjudicated delinquent increased more for person (from 56% to 63%), property (from 58% to 64%), and public order (from 51% to 58%) offense categories than for cases involving drug offenses (from 64% to 67%).

Offense profile of cases adjudicated delinquent that resulted in probation:

Most serious offense	1985	2004

Person	16%	24%
Property	61	36
Drugs	7	13
Public order	16	27
Total	100%	100%
Cases resulting in formal probation	188,400	393,100
Note : Detail may not total 100% because of rounding.

In 2004, 36% of cases adjudicated delinquent that resulted in probation involved property offenses, while person cases and public order cases each accounted for about one quarter of these cases (24% and 27%, respectively).
The offense characteristics of cases adjudicated delinquent resulting in probation changed between 1985 and 2004, with an increase in the proportion of cases involving person, drug, and public order offenses and a large decrease in the proportion involving property offenses.

Age

Among juveniles age 15 or younger, the overall likelihood of being placed on formal probation increased from 58% in 1985 to 65% in 2004; similar increases were seen across offense categories.
Among youth age 16 or older, the overall likelihood of being placed on formal probation increased between 1985 and 2004 from 55% to 59%; similar increases were seen across offense categories.
For both age groups in 2004, adjudicated cases involving drug offenses were more likely to result in probation than cases in other offense categories.

Gender

Between 1985 and 2004, the overall likelihood of being placed on formal probation increased more for adjudicated cases involving females (from 59% to 65%) than those involving males (from 57% to 62%).
For females in 2004, drug offense cases adjudicated delinquent were most likely to be placed on probation (71%), followed by person offense cases (69%) and property offense cases (66%). Public order offense cases were least likely to result in formal probation (60%).
Among males, drug offense cases adjudicated delinquent were most likely to be placed on probation (66%) in 2004, followed by property and person offense cases (63% each). Public order offense cases were least likely to result in formal probation (57%).

Between 1985 and 2004, the likelihood of probation being ordered following an adjudication of delinquency increased for nearly 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	58%	58%	59%	64%	51%	55%	54%	56%	64%	51%
1986	59	60	61	61	51	55	55	56	60	51
1987	60	60	62	61	51	56	55	56	62	50
1988	60	60	61	59	52	56	55	57	59	51
1989	59	59	61	56	52	55	54	57	56	51
1990	59	58	61	55	53	56	54	58	57	54
1991	59	57	62	54	55	56	53	58	53	54
1992	60	59	62	55	57	56	53	58	54	52
1993	60	60	61	57	57	55	53	57	55	53
1994	59	59	60	57	56	54	53	55	54	51
1995	60	60	62	61	57	55	53	57	57	53
1996	63	62	64	63	60	57	55	59	60	54
1997	64	64	65	66	60	58	58	60	62	54
1998	65	65	66	68	60	58	57	60	63	52
1999	65	65	66	67	61	58	58	59	63	52
2000	64	65	66	67	60	57	57	59	62	51
2001	64	65	66	67	61	57	58	59	62	51
2002	65	66	66	68	60	58	59	60	63	51
2003	65	65	66	68	61	57	58	60	62	52
2004	65	67	66	71	61	59	60	61	65	53

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	57%	56%	57%	64%	51%	59%	61%	61%	65%	51%
1986	57	57	58	60	51	60	64	63	63	51
1987	58	57	59	61	51	60	66	62	65	52
1988	57	57	59	59	51	61	64	63	62	54
1989	57	55	59	55	51	62	65	64	62	54
1990	57	55	59	55	53	62	64	64	60	55
1991	57	54	60	52	54	63	64	64	60	58
1992	57	55	60	54	54	63	64	64	62	59
1993	57	56	59	56	54	63	64	63	59	61
1994	56	55	57	55	52	62	64	62	60	59
1995	57	56	59	58	53	64	65	65	64	61
1996	59	57	61	61	56	65	67	66	66	62
1997	60	60	62	63	56	67	69	68	69	62
1998	61	60	63	64	55	66	68	68	70	61
1999	61	61	63	64	56	66	68	68	68	60
2000	60	60	62	64	54	65	67	68	67	59
2001	60	61	62	64	55	65	67	66	69	60
2002	61	62	63	65	55	65	68	67	68	59
2003	61	61	63	64	56	64	67	65	66	59
2004	62	63	63	66	57	65	69	66	71	60

Percentage of cases adjudicated delinquent resulting in probation by race:

	Male					Female
Year	All	Person	Property	Drugs	Public order	All	Person	Property	Drugs	Public order

1985	56%	57%	57%	64%	50%	59%	57%	61%	65%	56%
1986	57	59	58	62	49	59	57	61	58	55
1987	57	59	59	61	50	59	58	62	61	54
1988	57	59	59	61	50	59	58	61	58	55
1989	57	58	59	59	50	58	56	62	53	54
1990	58	57	60	60	52	57	55	61	53	55
1991	59	58	61	57	53	58	54	61	51	57
1992	59	58	61	58	53	58	56	61	52	59
1993	58	59	60	59	54	57	56	60	53	57
1994	58	59	59	59	53	55	54	57	51	55
1995	59	59	61	63	55	56	55	59	52	54
1996	62	61	63	66	58	57	56	60	55	55
1997	63	63	64	69	57	59	59	61	56	55
1998	63	63	65	69	57	59	60	63	57	55
1999	63	63	64	68	58	59	61	62	55	55
2000	62	63	64	67	56	59	61	62	57	55
2001	62	64	64	67	57	59	60	62	56	54
2002	63	65	64	68	56	60	62	63	58	55
2003	63	64	65	67	57	59	61	61	56	55
2004	64	66	65	69	59	60	62	62	61	55

	Amercian Indian					Asian/NHPI
Year	All	Person	Property	Drugs	Public order	All	Person	Property	Drugs	Public order

1985	40%	39%	41%	36%	40%	67%	59%	70%	77%	63%
1986	43	39	44	47	43	69	65	70	77	68
1987	48	49	49	49	41	70	63	72	67	71
1988	42	48	40	47	46	71	69	71	75	72
1989	43	40	42	59	46	68	64	70	65	67
1990	45	45	43	54	51	67	65	68	50	69
1991	39	36	39	39	43	62	57	60	63	73
1992	38	38	39	46	35	51	45	51	57	58
1993	51	45	51	64	57	50	50	49	62	49
1994	53	53	51	62	58	50	48	51	56	47
1995	55	55	53	63	58	61	62	56	60	73
1996	58	57	54	68	64	63	64	59	56	72
1997	62	65	58	72	65	66	68	66	63	68
1998	59	57	55	69	66	67	70	66	66	67
1999	59	57	55	75	64	65	68	63	69	64
2000	57	55	55	67	60	60	64	58	68	56
2001	52	48	50	66	55	59	62	58	64	55
2002	57	56	56	70	55	60	64	58	67	56
2003	54	53	54	65	52	61	63	58	65	65
2004	55	54	54	71	53	64	64	62	69	64

Race

Between 1985 and 2004, the overall likelihood of being placed on formal probation increased more for adjudicated cases involving American Indian youth (from 40% to 55%) than those involving white youth (from 56% to 64%). The likelihood decreased for Asian/NHPI juveniles (from 67% to 64%) and remained about the same for black youth (from 59% to 60%).
Between 1995 and 2004, the use of probation for adjudicated person offense cases increased for white youth (from 59% to 66%), black youth (from 55% to 62%), and Asian/NHPI youth (from 62% to 64%) but remained about the same for American Indian youth.
In 2004, among white youth, drug offense cases that were adjudicated delinquent were most likely to be placed on formal probation (69%), followed by adjudicated person (66%) and property offense cases (65%).
Among cases involving black youth in 2004, adjudicated person and property offense cases were most likely to be placed on formal probation (both 62%), followed by adjudicated drug offense cases (61%).
In 2004, for cases involving American Indian youth, adjudicated drug offense cases were most likely to be placed on formal probation (71%), followed by adjudicated person and property offense cases (both 54%).
For cases involving Asian/NHPI youth in 2004, drug offense cases that were adjudicated delinquent were most likely to be placed on formal probation (69%), followed by person and public order offense cases (both 64%).

Case Processing Overview, 2004

In 2004, 57% (940,800) of the estimated 1,660,700 juvenile court cases were handled formally (with the filing of a petition).
In 2004, 1% (9,400) of all formally processed delinquency cases were judicially transferred to criminal court.
In 2004, 67% (628,600) of the cases that were handled formally (with the filing of a petition) resulted in a delinquency adjudication.
In 63% (393,100) of cases adjudicated delinquent in 2004, formal probation was the most severe sanction ordered by the court.
In 2004, 22% (140,700) of cases adjudicated delinquent resulted in placement outside the home in a residential facility.
In 15% (94,900) of cases adjudicated delinquent in 2004, the juvenile was ordered to pay restitution or a fine, to participate in some form of community service, or to enter a treatment or counseling program—dispositions with minimal continuing supervision by probation staff.
In 32% (302,800) of all petitioned delinquency cases in 2004, the youth was not subsequently adjudicated delinquent. The court dismissed 77% of these cases, while 5% resulted in some form of informal probation and 18% in other voluntary dispositions.
In 2004, the court dismissed 39% of the informally handled delinquency cases, while 27% of the cases resulted in voluntary probation and 34% in other dispositions.

Flowchart showing an overview of the disposition of an estimated 1,660,700 juvenile delinquency cases in 2004.

Notes: Cases are categorized by their most severe or restrictive sanction. Detail may not add to totals because of rounding. Annual case processing flow diagrams for 1985 through 2004 are available online at www.ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/ojstatbb/court/faqs.asp.

For every 1,000 delinquency cases processed in 2004, 566 were petitioned for formal processing and 434 were handled informally.
Of the cases that were adjudicated delinquent, 63% (237 of 379) received a disposition of probation and 22% (85 of 379) were placed out of the home.
In many petitioned delinquency cases that did not result in a delinquency adjudication, the youth agreed to informal services or sanctions (41 of 182), including informal probation and other dispositions such as restitution.
Although juvenile courts in 2004 handled more than 4 in 10 delinquency cases without the filing of a formal petition, more than 60% of these cases received some form of court sanction, including probation or other dispositions such as restitution, community service, or referral to another agency.

Flowchart showing an overview of the disposition of a typical 1,000 juvenile delinquency cases in 2004.

Notes: Cases are categorized by their most severe or restrictive sanction. Detail may not add to totals because of rounding.

Case Processing by Offense Category, 2004

Person Offense Cases

In 2004, 62% (148,300) of all formally processed person offense cases resulted in a delinquency adjudication.
Formal probation was the most severe sanction ordered by the court in 64% (95,100) of the adjudicated person offense cases in 2004.
Once adjudicated, person offense cases were as likely to result in outof- home placement as were public order offense cases (24% each) and were more likely than property (21%) or drug offense cases (18%).
In 2004, one-quarter of person offense cases that were handled informally resulted in probation; 46% were dismissed.
Juvenile courts waived jurisdiction in 2% (4,000) of all petitioned person offense cases in 2004.

Property Offense Cases

Juvenile courts handled the majority (54%) of all property offense cases formally in 2004. Of these formally handled cases, 222,800 (almost 7 in 10) were adjudicated delinquent.
In 2004, 142,400 (64%) of the adjudicated property offense cases resulted in probation as the most severe sanction; another 21% (47,300) resulted in out-of-home placement. Other sanctions, such as restitution, community service, or referral to another agency, were ordered in 15% (33,100) of the petitioned property offense cases following adjudication.
Of the four general offense categories, property offense cases were least likely to be petitioned for formal processing. Once petitioned, however, property offense cases were more likely to result in the youth being adjudicated delinquent than were cases involving person offenses.

Notes: Cases are categorized by their most severe or restrictive sanction. Detail may not add to totals because of rounding. Annual case processing flow diagrams for 1985 through 2002 are available online at www.ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/ojstatbb/court/faqs.asp.

Drug Offense Cases

In 2004, 68% (76,200) of all petitioned drug offense cases resulted in the youth being adjudicated delinquent; 67% (51,100) of these cases received probation as the most severe sanction and another 18% (13,500) resulted in out-ofhome placement.
Other sanctions, such as restitution, community service, or referral to another agency were ordered in 15% (11,500) of petitioned drug offense cases following adjudication in 2004.
Juvenile courts waived jurisdiction in 1% (1,400) of all petitioned drug offense cases in 2004.
About 42% of drug offense cases were informally handled in 2004; 69% of the informally handled drug offense cases resulted in probation or some other sanction.

Notes: Cases are categorized by their most severe or restrictive sanction. Detail may not add to totals because of rounding. Annual case processing flow diagrams for 1985 through 2002 are available online at www.ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/ojstatbb/court/faqs.asp.

Public Order Offense Cases

In 2004, the majority (57%) of all public order offense cases were handled formally, with the filing of a petition for adjudication.
Once adjudicated delinquent, 58% of public order offense cases in 2004 resulted in probation as the most severe sanction, 24% were placed out of home, and 18% resulted in other sanctions.
In 2004, 43% of all public order offense cases were handled informally. More than 40% of these cases were dismissed, while the remaining cases resulted in some form of court sanction, including probation, restitution, community service, or referral to another agency.

Notes: Cases are categorized by their most severe or restrictive sanction. Detail may not add to totals because of rounding. Annual case processing flow diagrams for 1985 through 2002 are available online at www.ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/ojstatbb/court/faqs.asp.

Case Processing by Age, 2004

In 2004, 54% (513,600) of all delinquency cases involving youth age 15 or younger and 60% (427,100) of cases involving youth age 16 or older were handled formally with the filing of a petition.
Cases involving youth age 15 or younger were adjudicated delinquent in 68% of all formally processed cases in 2004; cases involving youth age 16 or older were adjudicated delinquent in 66% of all such cases.
The proportion of petitioned cases waived to criminal court in 2004 was less than half of 1% for youth age 15 or younger, compared with 2% for youth age 16 or older.
In 2004, 21% of cases adjudicated delinquent involving youth age 15 or younger and 24% of such cases involving youth age 16 or older resulted in out-of-home placement.
Probation was ordered as the most severe sanction in 2004 in 65% of the adjudicated cases involving youth age 15 or younger, compared with 59% of adjudicated cases involving youth 16 or older.
Among cases formally adjudicated in 2004 involving youth age 15 or younger, 14% resulted in other sanctions. For cases involving youth age 16 or older, 17% of the formally adjudicated cases resulted in other sanctions.
Of the 46% of all delinquency cases involving youth age 15 or younger that were handled informally in 2004, 28% resulted in a disposition of probation and 38% were dismissed. Among older youth in 2004, 40% of all delinquency cases were handled without the filing of a petition for adjudication; 25% of these cases resulted in a disposition of probation and 40% were dismissed.

Flowchart showing the disposition of 930,400 delinquency cases for juveniles age 15 or younger and 711,700 delinquency cases for age 16 or older in 2004.

Case Processing by Gender, 2004

In 2004, 60% of delinquency cases involving males were handled with the filing of a petition for adjudication, compared with 48% of those involving females.
Once petitioned, cases involving males in 2004 were somewhat more likely to result in a delinquency adjudication than were cases involving females (68% vs. 65%).
Delinquency cases involving females in 2004 were less likely to be waived to criminal court than those involving males.
Once adjudicated delinquent, 24% of cases involving males in 2004 resulted in out-of-home placement, compared with 17% of those involving females.
About 62% of the adjudicated cases involving males received probation as the most severe sanction and 14% resulted in other sanctions such as restitution or community service.
Among adjudicated cases involving females in 2004, 65% received probation as the most severe sanction and 17% resulted in other sanctions.
Informally handled delinquency cases involving males were equally as likely as those involving females to receive probation in 2004 (27%); male cases were more likely than female cases to be dismissed (41% vs. 36%).
In 2004, informally handled delinquency cases involving females were more likely to result in other sanctions than those involving males (36% vs. 33%).

Flowchart showing the disposition of 1,208,200 delinquency cases for male juveniles and 452,500 delinquency cases for female juveniles in 2004.

Case Processing by Race, 2004

In 2004, delinquency cases involving black youth were more likely to be handled formally (64%) than those involving white youth or American Indian youth (both 53%), or Asian/NHPI youth (59%).
Once petitioned, cases in 2004 involving black youth were less likely to be adjudicated delinquent (61%) than were cases involving white youth or Asian/NHPI youth (both 70%), or American Indian youth (78%).
For all racial groups in 2004, about 1% of delinquency cases resulted in waiver to criminal court.
Among adjudicated delinquency cases involving American Indian youth in 2004, 31% resulted in out-ofhome placement, compared with 25% of those involving black youth, and 21% of those involving white or Asian/NHPI youth.
In 64% of the adjudicated cases involving white or Asian/NHPI youth in 2004, probation was the most severe sanction; 15% resulted in other sanctions such as restitution or community service.
For adjudicated cases involving black youth in 2004, probation was the most severe sanction ordered in 60% of the cases and 15% resulted in other sanctions.
For adjudicated cases involving American Indian youth in 2004, probation was the most severe sanction ordered in 55% of the cases and 14% resulted in other sanctions.

Flowchart showing the disposition of 1,096,500 delinquency cases for white juveniles and 513,800 delinquency cases for black juveniles in 2004.

Notes: Cases are categorized by their most severe or restrictive sanction. Detail may not add to totals because of rounding. Annual case processing flow diagrams for 1985 through 2002 are available online at www.ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/ojstatbb/court/faqs.asp.

In 2004, 47% of delinquency cases involving white or American Indian youth were handled informally, compared with 36% of cases involving black youth and 41% of cases involving Asian/NHPI juveniles.
Informally handled delinquency cases involving black or American Indian youth in 2004 were a little more likely (44%) to be dismissed than those involving white youth (37%) or Asian/NHPI youth (42%).
For all four racial groups in 2004, informally handled delinquency cases were nearly equally likely to result in other sanctions such as restitution, community service, or referral to another agency: 34% for cases involving white youth, 32% for cases involving black youth, 35% for cases involving American Indian youth, and 36% for cases involving Asian/NHPI youth.

Flowchart showing the disposition of 26,100 delinquency cases for American Indian youth and 24,200 for Asian/NHPI youth in 2004.

Case Processing by FBI Offense Category, 2004

Violent Crime Index Cases

In 2004, juvenile courts waived 40 of every 1,000 Violent Crime Index offense cases to criminal court.
Juvenile courts ordered formal sanctions or waived jurisdiction in more than half (548 of 1,000) of Violent Crime Index offense cases handled in 2004.
Cases involving juveniles adjudicated delinquent for Violent Crime Index offenses in 2004 were more likely to result in out-of-home placement (172 of 1,000) than were Property Crime Index offense cases (84 of 1,000).
Cases that are not petitioned and cases in which juveniles are not adjudicated delinquent may result in informal sanctions. Thus, juvenile courts imposed some sort of sanction— formal or informal—in 71% (712 of every 1,000) of the Violent Crime Index offense cases handled in 2004.

Notes: The Violent Crime Index includes criminal homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. The Property Crime Index includes burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. Cases are categorized by their most severe or restrictive sanction. Detail may not add to totals because of rounding. Annual case processing flow diagrams for 1985 through 2004 are available online at www.ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/ojstatbb/court/faqs.asp.

Property Crime Index Cases

Juveniles received informal sanctions in 35% (346 of every 1,000) of Property Crime Index offense cases processed in 2004.
Juvenile courts waived 6 of every 1,000 Property Crime Index offense cases to criminal court in 2004.
Cases involving juveniles adjudicated delinquent for Property Crime Index offenses were more likely to result in probation (245 out of 381) than were Violent Crime Index offense cases (294 out of 508).
More than 25% of all Property Crime Index offenses referred to juvenile courts in 2004 were ultimately dismissed (267 of 1,000)—22% of the petitioned cases and 33% of those not petitioned.

Case Processing by Selected Individual Offense, 2004

Aggravated Assault Cases

Juvenile courts waived 19 of every 1,000 aggravated assault cases to criminal court in 2004, compared with 2 of every 1,000 simple assault cases.
About 51% of aggravated assault cases in 2004 received some formal sanction or were waived to criminal court (510 of 1,000).
In 2004, more than 13% of aggravated assault cases received a formal sanction of out-of-home placement (135 of 1,000) and 31% were placed on formal probation (312 of 1,000).
Of all aggravated assault cases referred to juvenile courts in 2004, 29% were eventually released or dismissed (291 of 1,000)—24% of the petitioned cases and 46% of those that were informally handled.

Simple Assault Cases

Juveniles received informal sanctions in 30% of simple assault cases processed in 2004 (296 of 1,000).
Of every 1,000 simple assault cases handled in 2004, 328 received some formal sanction or were waived to criminal court.
In 2004, 7% of simple assault cases resulted in the juvenile receiving a formal sanction of out-of-home placement (66 of 1,000) and nearly 22% were placed on formal probation (215 of 1,000).
Of all simple assault cases referred to juvenile courts in 2004, 38% were eventually dismissed (376 of 1,000)—31% of the petitioned cases and 45% of those that were informally handled.

Robbery Cases

Juvenile courts waived 69 of every 1,000 robbery cases to criminal court in 2004.
In 2004, juvenile courts ordered formal sanctions or waived jurisdiction in 62% of all robbery cases (622 of 1,000).
In 2004, 24% of robbery cases received a formal sanction of out-ofhome placement (241 of 1,000) and 27% resulted in formal probation (273 of 1,000).
Of all robbery cases referred to juvenile court in 2004, 14% were not petitioned; the majority (64%) of these cases were dismissed.

Burglary Cases

Juvenile courts waived 16 of every 1,000 burglary cases to criminal court in 2004.
In 2004, 75% (582 of 776) of all petitioned burglary cases resulted in the youth being adjudicated delinquent.
Juvenile courts ordered formal sanctions or waived jurisdiction in 77% of all formally handled burglary cases in 2004.
In 2004, 151 of 1,000 burglary cases received a formal sanction of out-ofhome placement and 382 of 1,000 resulted in formal probation.
Less than one-quarter (22%) of all burglary cases referred to juvenile courts in 2004 were handled informally and less than half of these cases (106 of 224) were dismissed.

Motor Vehicle Theft Cases

Juvenile courts waived about 1% of motor vehicle theft cases to criminal court in 2004 (12 of every 1,000).
In 2004, 57% of motor vehicle theft cases referred to juvenile courts resulted in formal court sanctions or waiver to criminal court.
More than one-third of motor vehicle cases adjudicated delinquent in 2004 resulted in out-of-home placement (179 of 558).
About one-fifth of motor vehicle theft cases referred to juvenile courts in 2004 were handled without the filing of a petition (208 of 1,000).

Vandalism Cases

Juvenile courts waived 2 of every 1,000 vandalism cases to criminal court in 2004.
More than half of vandalism cases referred to juvenile courts in 2004 were handled formally (523 of 1,000). Of these cases, 65% were adjudicated delinquent (342 of 523).
In 2004, 66% of petitioned vandalism cases adjudicated delinquent resulted in a court sanction of probation (226 of 342), and 17% resulted in out-ofhome placement (57 of 342).
Juvenile courts handled 477 of every 1,000 vandalism cases informally (without a petition) in 2004.Youth received informal sanctions in 57% of these nonpetitioned cases.

Previous	Contents	Next

Juvenile Court Statistics 2003–2004		March 2007