Frequently Asked Questions about Juveniles in Corrections

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), Serving Children, Families, and Communities

Related FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) provide the latest answers to the most commonly asked questions about youth in corrections. Here you can learn about the number and characteristics of youth in residential placement nationwide and in each state. You can also learn about the facilities where these youth reside.

Demographics

How many youth are held in residential placement on a given day in the U.S.? [Answer]
What is the female proportion of juveniles in residential placement? [Answer]
How do residential placement rates vary by race? [Answer]
How old are most juveniles in residential placement? [Answer]
Does the race/ethnicity profile of juvenile offenders in residential placement vary by offense? [Answer]
Does the race/ethnicity profile of juveniles in residential placement vary by offense and gender? [Answer]
Does the minority proportion of juvenile offenders in residential placement vary by State and placement status? [Answer]
How do female residential placement rates vary by race/ethnicity and State? [Answer]
How do male residential placement rates vary by race/ethnicity and State? [Answer]

Offenses

Does the offense profile of juveniles held in residential placement vary by State? [Answer]
Does the race/ethnicity profile of juvenile offenders in residential placement vary by offense? [Answer]
How does the type of offense resulting in placement vary by race/ethnicity? [Answer]
How does the type of offense resulting in placement vary by sex? [Answer]
Does the offense profile of detained juveniles in residential placement vary by State? [Answer]
Does the offense profile of committed juveniles in residential placement vary by State? [Answer]

Time in Placement

Does time in placement vary for detained juveniles and committed juveniles? [Answer]
Does time in placement vary by sex? [Answer]
Does time in placement vary by race/ethnicity? [Answer]
How long do juveniles stay in juvenile residential placement facilities? [Answer]
Does time in placement vary by type of offense for detained offenders? [Answer]
Does time in placement vary by type of offense for committed offenders? [Answer]

Facility Characteristics

Are most youth held in small facilities? [Answer]
Do public facilities hold more youth than private facilities? [Answer]
How many juvenile residential placement facilities hold female offenders? [Answer]
Do residential placement facilities hold both juvenile offenders younger than age 13 with older teen offenders? [Answer]
Do residential placement facilities hold both violent juvenile offenders with nonviolent offenders? [Answer]
How many juvenile residential facilities operate at or above capacity? [Answer]

Facility Practices and Services

Do private and public facilities provide onsite residential treatment? [Answer]
What facility type is most likely to provide onsite residential treatment services? [Answer]
Education: Are youth in residential placement evaluated for educational needs? [Answer]
Education: When are youth in residential placement facilities evaluated for educational needs? [Answer]
Mental Health: Are youth in residential placement evaluated for mental health needs? [Answer]
Mental Health: When are youth in residential placement facilities evaluated for mental health needs? [Answer]
Suicide Risk: Are youth in residential placement evaluated for suicide risk? [Answer]
Suicide Risk: When are youth in residential placement facilities evaluated for suicide risk? [Answer]
Substance Abuse: Are youth in residential placement evaluated for substance abuse problems? [Answer]
Substance Abuse: When are youth in residential placement facilities evaluated for substance abuse problems? [Answer]

State Comparisons

How do residential placement rates vary by State? [Answer]
What factors influence State residential placement rates? [Answer]
How do States vary in their use of private facilities? [Answer]
Does the number of juvenile residential placement facilities vary by State? [Answer]
Does the offense profile of juveniles held in residential placement vary by State? [Answer]
What is the female proportion of juveniles in residential placement? [Answer]
How do residential placement rates vary by race? [Answer]
How do detention rates vary by race? [Answer]
How do commitment rates vary by race? [Answer]
How do female residential placement rates vary by race/ethnicity and State? [Answer]
How do male residential placement rates vary by race/ethnicity and State? [Answer]

Victimization in Juvenile Facilities

What proportion of youth report being sexually victimized in juvenile facilities? [Answer]
Does the rate of sexual victimization in juvenile facilities vary by victim demographics? [Answer]
Who are the perpetrators of youth-on-youth sexual victimization in juvenile facilities? [Answer]
What are the incident characteristics of sexual victimization in juvenile facilities? [Answer]

Juveniles in Adult Jails and Prisons

How many youth age 17 or younger are held in adult jails? [Answer]
How many youth age 17 or younger are held in state prisons? [Answer]