| Q: |
Are most youth held in small facilities? |
| A: |
More than two-thirds (68%) of facilities were small (holding 20 or fewer residents), but more than half (51%) of youth were held in medium facilities (holding 21-100 residents) in 2020. |
Youth held for an offense in residential placement by facility size and facility type, 2020
| Facility size |
Number of
facilities |
Percent of
facilities |
Number of
youth |
Percent of
youth |
| Total |
1,323 |
100% |
25,014 |
100% |
| 1-10 residents |
539 |
41% |
2,570 |
10% |
| 11-20 residents |
361 |
27% |
4,921 |
20% |
| 21-50 residents |
301 |
23% |
8,290 |
33% |
| 51-100 residents |
78 |
6% |
4,449 |
18% |
| 101-200 residents |
39 |
3% |
4,094 |
16% |
| 200+ residents |
5 |
0% |
690 |
3% |
Notes: The term ‘youth’ refers to persons under age 21 who were in a facility because they were charged with or adjudicated for an offense.
Detail may not add to total because of rounding.
The COVID-19 pandemic had significant effects on all stages of the juvenile justice system, including juvenile residential facilities, which may have impacted multiple aspects of the 2020 JRFC data, such as reporting, the number of youth in residential placement, and the services received.
- The largest facilities—those holding more than 200 residents—accounted for less than 1% of all facilities; these facilities held 3% of all youth in placement in 2020.
- The smallest facilities—those holding 10 or fewer residents—accounted for 41% of all facilities; these facilities held 10% of all youth in placement in 2020.
Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/corrections/qa08501.asp?qaDate=2020.
Released on January 10, 2023.
Data Source: Authors' analysis of the Juvenile Residential Facility Census 2020 [machine-readable data files]. Washington, D.C.: OJJDP.
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