The analysis used official records and revealed that 830 youth were committed in 1990 compared to 836 in 1989. The 1990 commitments represented 4.4 percent of the arraignments. The average newly committed youth was white, male, and 15.9 years of age and was committed on a property offense. He came from a single-parent family whose average yearly income was $10,440. He had completed the 8th grade, placing him approximately 2 years below grade level. Fewer than 20 percent of all youth committed in 1990 were under 14.5 years old. Figures and tables