| Q: |
Has the juvenile courts' handling of delinquency cases changed? |
| A: |
The proportion of formally handled cases that did not result in a delinquency adjudication increased between 1985 and 2020. |
Manner of handling profile for delinquency cases, 1985-2020
| Year |
Formal
Adjudicated or waived |
Formal
Not adjudicated |
Informal |
| 1985 |
29.7% |
15.4% |
55.0% |
| 1986 |
30.0% |
16.2% |
53.7% |
| 1987 |
29.1% |
17.1% |
53.8% |
| 1988 |
29.3% |
18.0% |
52.7% |
| 1989 |
31.5% |
17.9% |
50.6% |
| 1990 |
30.4% |
18.0% |
51.6% |
| 1991 |
29.5% |
19.0% |
51.5% |
| 1992 |
29.6% |
19.6% |
50.8% |
| 1993 |
30.9% |
20.0% |
49.1% |
| 1994 |
30.8% |
20.2% |
48.9% |
| 1995 |
30.5% |
21.6% |
48.0% |
| 1996 |
32.6% |
20.5% |
47.0% |
| 1997 |
33.8% |
20.1% |
46.1% |
| 1998 |
35.2% |
20.5% |
44.3% |
| 1999 |
35.8% |
19.8% |
44.5% |
| 2000 |
36.3% |
18.7% |
45.0% |
| 2001 |
35.7% |
19.3% |
45.0% |
| 2002 |
36.0% |
19.2% |
44.8% |
| 2003 |
35.5% |
19.4% |
45.1% |
| 2004 |
34.7% |
18.8% |
46.4% |
| 2005 |
33.6% |
19.6% |
46.8% |
| 2006 |
34.0% |
20.3% |
45.7% |
| 2007 |
33.7% |
20.5% |
45.8% |
| 2008 |
33.7% |
20.0% |
46.3% |
| 2009 |
33.0% |
20.1% |
46.9% |
| 2010 |
32.7% |
19.7% |
47.5% |
| 2011 |
32.8% |
20.2% |
47.0% |
| 2012 |
31.5% |
22.1% |
46.4% |
| 2013 |
31.8% |
23.2% |
45.0% |
| 2014 |
31.8% |
23.1% |
45.1% |
| 2015 |
30.6% |
23.9% |
45.5% |
| 2016 |
30.5% |
24.4% |
45.2% |
| 2017 |
30.8% |
24.6% |
44.6% |
| 2018 |
30.2% |
25.0% |
44.8% |
| 2019 |
28.3% |
25.1% |
46.6% |
| 2020 |
27.0% |
27.4% |
45.7% |
Detail may not add to 100% due to rounding.
It is important to note that 2020 was the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have impacted policies, procedures, and data collection activities regarding referrals to and processing of youth by juvenile courts. Additionally, stay-at-home orders and school closures likely impacted the volume and type of law-violating behavior by youth referred to juvenile court in 2020.
[ Graph version ]
[ CSV file ]
- In 2020, youth were adjudicated delinquent or waived to criminal court in 27.0% of all delinquency cases referred to juvenile court.
- Between 1985 and 2020, the proportion of delinquency cases resulting in adjudication or waiver ranged from 27.0% to 36.3%.
Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/court/qa06402.asp?qaDate=2020.
Released on January 10, 2023. Adapted from Easy Access to Juvenile Court Statistics. Available on-line at: https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/ezajcs/.
Data Source: National Juvenile Court Data Archive. National Center for Juvenile Justice. Pittsburgh, PA.
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