| Petitioned Status Offense Cases |
| Q: |
Do trends in the use of detention vary by offense? |
| A: |
Since 2005, truancy cases were least likely to involve detention. |
Percentage of petitioned status offense cases detained, 2005-2020
| Year |
Runaway |
Truancy |
Curfew |
Ungovernability |
Liquor law
violations |
| 2005 |
15.3% |
6.8% |
12.0% |
11.3% |
12.7% |
| 2006 |
15.7% |
7.1% |
12.7% |
10.8% |
11.9% |
| 2007 |
16.7% |
6.4% |
12.7% |
11.5% |
11.9% |
| 2008 |
16.2% |
6.3% |
10.0% |
11.2% |
11.3% |
| 2009 |
17.4% |
6.2% |
10.8% |
11.7% |
11.6% |
| 2010 |
15.6% |
5.4% |
10.0% |
10.9% |
11.0% |
| 2011 |
16.0% |
5.2% |
9.9% |
11.0% |
10.5% |
| 2012 |
15.5% |
5.1% |
7.1% |
12.0% |
9.8% |
| 2013 |
14.4% |
4.9% |
7.2% |
11.2% |
10.4% |
| 2014 |
13.1% |
4.7% |
6.8% |
9.3% |
8.2% |
| 2015 |
13.7% |
3.9% |
7.0% |
8.8% |
8.8% |
| 2016 |
11.8% |
3.5% |
5.8% |
6.9% |
8.5% |
| 2017 |
10.9% |
3.0% |
4.3% |
6.6% |
7.5% |
| 2018 |
9.0% |
2.7% |
5.2% |
7.3% |
8.8% |
| 2019 |
8.9% |
3.0% |
4.5% |
10.5% |
8.5% |
| 2020 |
8.0% |
2.6% |
4.2% |
7.2% |
6.9% |
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 ]
- Juvenile courts sometimes hold youth in secure detention facilities during processing of their case. Depending on the State's detention laws, the court may decide detention is necessary to ensure the youth's appearance at subsequent court hearings, to protect the community from the youth, or to secure the juvenile's own safety. Detention may also be ordered for the purpose of evaluating the youth.
- In 2020, 8.0% of runaway, 7.3% of ungovernability, and 6.9% liquor law violation cases involved detention, compared with 4.2% of curfew cases and 2.6% of truancy cases.
Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/court/qa06703.asp?qaDate=2020.
Released on January 10, 2023.
Data Source: National Juvenile Court Data Archive. National Center for Juvenile Justice. Pittsburgh, PA.
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