Statistical Briefing Book > Juveniles in Court Previous Page
Delinquency Cases
Q: Has there been an increase in the number of delinquency cases ordered to formal probation or residential placement?
A: Nearly all the growth in the number of adjudicated delinquency cases in which the youth was placed on formal probation or ordered to a residential facility took place between 1985 and 1997.
Note: Cases are categorized according to their most severe disposition.
  • In dispositional hearings, juvenile court judges must determine the most appropriate sanction for delinquent youth. Disposition options include commitment to an institution or another residential facility; probation; or a variety of other dispositions, such as referral to an outside agency or treatment program, community service, fines, or restitution. Very often the court imposes some combination of these sanctions.
  • The number of adjudicated delinquency cases resulting in residential placement increased 65% between 1985 and 1997 and then decreased by the same amount through 2018. In 2018, adjudicated juveniles were ordered to residential placement in 62,100 delinquency cases—28% of all adjudicated delinquency cases.
  • The number of adjudicated delinquency cases resulting in formal probation nearly doubled between 1985 and 1997, then decreased 63% through 2018. In 2018, formal probation was the most restrictive disposition ordered in 139,000 delinquency cases—63% of all adjudicated delinquency cases.
  • The number of adjudicated delinquency cases receiving other court ordered sanctions nearly doubled between 1985 and 1997, and then decreased 68% by 2018. In 2018, other sanctions, such as community service and restitution, were imposed in 19,000 delinquency cases—9% of all adjudicated delinquency cases.
Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/court/qa06501.asp?qaDate=2018. Released on March 31, 2020.

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.