John J. Wilson, Acting Administrator FACT SHEET #5 . September 1993 Children in Custody 1991: Public Juvenile Facilities Joseph Moone The 1991 Children in Custody Census found 57,542 juveniles in 1,076 public facilities. This was the largest population of juveniles in public facilities since the census began in 1974. These figures represent a 2.5% increase over 1989 of the juvenile population in public facilities. During the same period, the census indicated a 2% decrease in the number of facilities. This Fact Sheet provides some basic State level information of juveniles in custody in public juvenile facilities. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) sponsored the U.S. Bureau of the Census to conduct a census of 1,120 publicly operated juvenile detention, correctional, and shelter facilities. The response rate for the public facilities was virtually 100%. Of the 1,119 that responded 1,076 (or 96%) met the criteria of a juvenile detention, correctional, or shelter facility. Specifically, a facility was included if it (1) housed more than 50% juveniles, (2) had a juvenile offender population greater than 1% of the total population, and (3) indicated it had the authority to hold juveniles adjudicated by the juvenile court. The figures presented here do not include juveniles held in adult jails, prisons, or police lockups. Facilities Of the 1,076 public facilities, each classified themselves as follows: 439 detention centers 204 training schools 61 shelters 71 camps, ranches or farms 22 reception centers 279 halfway houses The characteristics of these facilities differed greatly depending on the facility type. For example, halfway houses and shelters tended to be smaller, holding an average of 12 and 10 juveniles, respectively. Training schools were the largest, holding an average 140 juveniles. The other facility types fell between these extremes. There were half as many public juvenile facilities as private, yet these facilities held more juveniles. The average population for private facilities was 18 while the average population for public facilities was 53. For further information regarding private facilities, please see OJJDP Fact Sheet #2 Children in Custody 1991: Private Facilities. Juveniles in Custody Of the juveniles in these public facilities, 95 percent were in custody for delinquency offenses (those that would be considered criminal if committed by an adult). Only 5 percent were in custody because of status offenses (offenses that would not be illegal if committed by an adult). The public facilities reported a total of 683,636 admissions and 674,597 releases in 1990. This number represents admission transactions, not individual juveniles. While many juveniles are admitted for the first time to a facility, many are also transferred between facilities. This number captures the new admissions as well as the transfers. Custody Rates The United States had an overall custody rate of 221 juveniles in custody per 100,000 juveniles. This rate remained the same as in 1989 (221, as reported in OJJDP Update on Statistics: Children in Custody 1989 Public Juvenile Facilities); however, the juvenile population on the census date did increase from 53,503 to 57,542. These rates account only for juveniles aged 10 to the upper age of juvenile court jurisdiction. In most states, juvenile courts and, by extension, juvenile custody authorities retain jurisdiction over juveniles until age 17. However, some States extend jurisdiction only to age 15 or 16. In many States, the correctional agencies' continuing jurisdiction may extend beyond the age of juvenile court jurisdiction. This Fact Sheet was prepared by Joseph Moone, a Social Science Program Specialist in OJJDP's Research and Program Development Division. The 1991 Children in Custody Census was conducted by the U.S. Bureau of the Census for OJJDP. The Population Estimates Branch of the Bureau of the Census provided the population estimates used to calculate custody rates. These estimates are based on methodology described in Current Population Reports Series P-25 No. 1010. For further information on the Children in Custody Census, call Joseph Moone at (202) 307-5929. For a printed copy of this fact sheet, contact the Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse, 800-638-8736.