Adjudicated delinquency cases placed on probation, by offense, 1985-2010

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Working for Youth Justice and Safety

Printer-friendly

Probation as a Court Disposition

Q:	Do trends in the number of adjudicated cases receiving probation vary by offense?
A:	Increases in the number of adjudicated cases ordered to formal probation occurred in all four offense categories, with drug offense cases showing the sharpest increase between 1985 and 2010.

Adjudicated delinquency cases placed on probation, by offense, 1985-2010

[ Text only ] [ Excel file ]

Between 1985 and 2010, the volume of adjudicated delinquency cases ordered to formal probation increased 34%. In comparison, the number of adjudicated delinquency cases ordered to residential placement increased 7% during the same period.
The number of adjudicated drug offense cases ordered to formal probation increased 153% between 1985 and 2010. During the same period, there was a 115% increase among person offense cases and a 107% increase among public order offense cases. The number of adjudicated property offense cases ordered to formal probation increased 50% between 1985 and 1997, but then declined substantially through 2010, resting below the 1985-level.
As a result of these changes, the formal probation caseload included greater proportions of person, drug, and public order offense cases in 2009 than in 1985.

Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: http://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/probation/qa07104.asp?qaDate=2010. Released on April 17, 2013.

Adapted from Juvenile Court Statistics 2010 (forthcoming). Pittsburgh, PA: National Center for Juvenile Justice.