Juvenile court processing for a typical 1,000 delinquency cases, 2004

Offense Total delinquency Person offenses Violent Crime Index Criminal homicide Forcible rape Robbery Aggravated assault Simple assault Other violent sex offenses Other person offenses Property offenses Property crime index Burglary Larceny-theft Motor vehicle theft Arson Vandalism Trespassing Stolen property offenses Other property offenses Drug law violations Public order offenses Obstruction of justice Disorderly conduct Weapons offenses Liquor law violations Nonviolent sex offenses Other public order offenses

Year 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985

Display data for All Male Female Age 15 or younger Age 16 Age 17 or over White Black American Indian Asian/NHPI

Display data as A typical 1000 cases National estimates

Total delinquency 1,660,700 Estimated Cases           | Intake decision | Intake disposition | Judicial decision | Judicial disposition |                    Waived 6                                    Placed 85                              Probation 237        Petitioned 566            Adjudicated 379    Other sanction 57                                     1,000                               Cases                Nonadjudicated  182                                  Probation 9                              Other sanction 32        Nonpetitioned  434                    Dismissed 141              Probation 117                              Other sanction 147                              Dismissed 170                                                                                     Detail may not add to total because of rounding.

• Cases referred to juvenile court are first screened by an intake department (either within or outside the court). The intake department may decide to dismiss the case for lack of legal sufficiency or to resolve the matter formally (petitioned) or informally (nonpetitioned).
  • In 2004, 57% (566 of 1,000) of all delinquency cases disposed by juvenile courts were handled formally while 43% (434 of 1,000) were handled informally.
  • Among nonpetitioned cases, 39% (170 of 434) were dismissed at intake, often for lack of legal sufficiency. In the remaining cases (61%, or 264 of 434), youth voluntarily agreed to informal sanctions, including referral to a social service agency, informal probation, or the payment of fines or some form of voluntary restitution.
• If the intake department decides that a case should be handled formally within the juvenile court, a petition is filed and the case is placed on the court calendar (or docket) for an adjudicatory hearing. On the other hand, the intake department may decide that a case should be removed from juvenile court and handled instead in criminal (adult) court. In these cases, a petition is usually filed in juvenile court requesting a waiver/transfer hearing, during which the juvenile court judge is asked to waive jurisdiction over the case.
  • In 2004, 67% (379 of 566 cases) of all formally processed delinquency cases resulted in the youth being adjudicated delinquent. In 32% (182 of 566) of these cases, the youth was not adjudicated and 1% (6 of 566) were judicially waived to criminal court.
• At the disposition hearing, the juvenile court judge determines the most appropriate sanction, generally after reviewing a predisposition report prepared by the probation department. The range of options available to a court typically includes commitment to an institution; placement in a group or foster home or other residential facility; probation (either regular or intensive supervision); referral to an outside agency, day treatment, or mental health program; or imposition of a fine, community service, or restitution.
  • Youth in 22% (85 of 379) of adjudicated delinquency cases were placed in a residential facility. In another 63% (237 of 379) of these adjudicated cases, youth were placed on formal probation.

 

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