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West Virginia Juvenile Corrections Report: 2001-2003

NCJ Number
212113
Author(s)
Cynthia A. Hamilton M.S.; Stephen M. Haas Ph.D.
Date Published
June 2005
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This report presents statistics on juveniles committed and released from West Virginia’s juvenile correctional facilities during 2001 through 2003.
Abstract
Monthly and daily population reports provided by West Virginia’s juvenile corrections system were used to compile the report. During 2003, West Virginia experienced the highest number of juvenile commitments in 10 years. There were 194 juveniles committed during 2001, 185 juveniles committed during 2002, and 222 juveniles committed during 2003, representing a 15.1 percent increase between 2002 and 2003. Males and non-White youth were overrepresented among juveniles committed during 2003: non-White youths comprised 16.9 percent of juveniles committed to juvenile correctional facilities while non-White youths only comprised 5.8 percent of the population in West Virginia during 2003. A full 71.6 percent of youths committed during 2003 were charged with multiple offenses. Probation violations were the most frequently charged offense in 2003 followed by assault and battery, burglary, and theft. A total of 309 juveniles were released from West Virginia’s juvenile correctional facilities in 2003 after serving an average sentence of 9 months. The methodology used to compile the report is described. Graphs, tables