In 1997, youth were detained at some point between referral and disposition in 15% of delinquency cases involving white juveniles, 27% of cases involving blacks, and 19% of cases involving youth of other races (table 43). The largest racial variation in detention use was for cases involving drug law violations. Detention was used in 14% of drug cases involving white juveniles, 38% of cases involving blacks, and 16% of cases involving youth of other races.

The proportion of cases involving detention decreased for all racial groups between 1988 and 1997, but the decline was greatest for youth of other races (8 percentage points). Most of the change occurred between 1990 and 1997. For all racial groups, the greatest decline in the use of detention was for drug cases (7 to 16 percentage points).