Juvenile Offenders in Court
Highlights from Chapter 6:
- Juvenile courts handled 1.6 million delinquency cases in 2002-up from 1.1 million in 1985. However, the volume of delinquency cases has declined since 1997 for most offense categories (11% overall). (p. 157)
- The 2002 delinquency caseload contained a smaller share of property offenses and a larger share of person offenses than in 1985. (p. 158)
- The female proportion of delinquency cases increased steadily from 19% in 1991 to 26% in 2002. (p. 161)
- In 2002, blacks were 16% of the juvenile population but 29% of the delinquency caseload. The black proportion was greater for person offense cases (37%) and lower for drug cases (21%) than for property (28%) or public order (29%) cases. (p. 163)
- In 1 in 5 delinquency cases in 2002, the youth was detained between referral to court and case disposition. Detention was most likely for person offense cases (25%) and least likely for property offense cases (17%). (p. 168)
- White youth accounted for the largest number of delinquency cases involving detention, although they were the least likely to be detained. (p. 169)
- Juvenile courts' use of formal handling has increased. In 1985, juvenile courts petitioned 45% of delinquency cases. In 2002, that proportion had increased to 58%. (p. 171)
- Juvenile courts adjudicated youth delinquent in nearly 7 out of 10 petitioned cases. For most offenses, the youth was adjudicated delinquent in more than 60% of petitioned cases. (p. 172)
- Formal probation was ordered in 62% of adjudicated delinquency cases in 2002-in 23% the youth was ordered to residential placement. (p. 174)
- Juvenile courts waived fewer cases to criminal court in 2002 (7,100) than in 1985 (7,200). In 2002, waived cases accounted for less than 1% of petitioned delinquency cases. For most years between 1985 and 2002, person offense cases were the most likely type of cases to be waived to criminal court. The exception was 1989-1991, when drug cases were the most likely to be waived. (p. 186-187)