Probation as a Court Disposition

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

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Q:	Do trends in the number of adjudicated cases receiving probation vary by offense?
A:	Increases in the number of adjudicated cases ordered to formal probation occurred in all four offense categories, with drug offense cases showing the sharpest increase between 1985 and 2005.

Adjudicated delinquency cases placed on probation, by offense, 1985-2005

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Between 1985 and 2005, the volume of adjudicated delinquency cases ordered to formal probation increased 95%. In comparison, the number of adjudicated delinquency cases ordered to residential placement increased 30% during the same period.
The number of adjudicated drug offense cases ordered to formal probation increased 236% between 1985 and 2005. There was a 220% increase among public order offense cases, a 203% increase among person offense cases, and a 15% increase among property offense cases during that period.
As a result of these changes, the formal probation caseload included greater proportions of person, drug, and public order offense cases in 2005 than in 1985.

Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/ojstatbb/probation/qa07104.asp?qaDate=2005. Released on September 12, 2008.

Adapted from Puzzanchera, C. and Sickmund, M. (2008). Juvenile Court Statistics 2005. Washington, D.C.: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.