Detention

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), Serving Children, Families, and Communities

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Detention

Q:	Have trends in the number of detained cases varied by race?
A:	The number of delinquency cases involving detention increased for all racial groups between 1985 and 2005.

Detained delinquency cases by race, 1985-2005

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Among Asian youth the number of cases involving detention increased 137% from 1985 to 2005. During the same period, delinquency cases involving detention increased 97% for black youth, 24% for white youth, and 13% for American Indian youth.
In 2005, youth were detained at some point between referral to court and case disposition in 26% of delinquency cases involving black youth, 22% for Asian youth, 20% for American Indian youth, and 18% for white youth.
In 2005, white youth accounted for the largest proportion of delinquency cases involving detention (56%). By comparison, blacks accounted for 42%, while Asians and American Indians each accounted for about 1% of delinquency cases involving detention.

Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/ojstatbb/court/qa06304.asp?qaDate=2005. Released on September 12, 2008.

Adapted from Puzzanchera, C. and Sickmund, M. Juvenile Court Statistics 2005. [Forthcoming]. Washington, D.C.: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.