| Petitioned Status Offense Cases |
| Q: |
What proportion of petitioned status cases are referred to juvenile court by law enforcement? |
| A: |
In 2020, fewer than one in five petitioned status cases were referred to juvenile court by law enforcement but the proportion varied by offense. |
* Includes other offenses not shown.
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.
|
- Cases can be referred to juvenile court by any one of a number of sources, such as law enforcement agencies, social service agencies, schools, parents, probation officers, and victims.
- Law enforcement agencies referred about one-third of runaway and ungovernability cases, more than 90% of curfew cases, and more than 80% of liquor law violations handled in juvenile court in 2020. Conversely, a small proportion of truancy cases (less than 2%) were referred by law enforcement.
Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/court/qa06604.asp?qaDate=2020.
Released on January 10, 2023.
Data Source: National Juvenile Court Data Archive. National Center for Juvenile Justice. Pittsburgh, PA.
|