Case Flow Data

Case Flow by Detailed Offense

Juvenile court processing for a typical 1,000 delinquency cases, 2002

Offense

Year

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Total delinquency [Opens a new window]
1,675,500 Estimated Cases

| Intake decision
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| Intake disposition
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| Judicial decision
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| Judicial disposition
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Waived

Placed

Probation

231

Petitioned

571

Adjudicated

384

Other sanction

1,000

Cases

Nonadjudicated

182

Probation

Other sanction

Nonpetitioned

429

Dismissed

139

Probation

116

Other sanction

136

Dismissed

177

Detail may not add to total because of rounding.

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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 2002, 57% (571 of 1,000) of all delinquency cases disposed by juvenile courts were handled formally while 43% (429 of 1,000) were handled informally.
- Among nonpetitioned cases, 41% (177 of 429) were dismissed at intake, often for lack of legal sufficiency. In the remaining cases (59%, or 252 of 429), 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 2002, 67% (384 of 571 cases) of all formally processed delinquency cases resulted in the youth being adjudicated delinquent. In 32% (182 of 571) of these cases, the youth was not adjudicated and 1% (4 of 571) 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 24% (91 of 384) of adjudicated delinquency cases were placed in a residential facility. In another 60% (231 of 384) of these adjudicated cases, youth were placed on formal probation.

Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/ojstatbb/court/JCSCF_Display.asp?ID=qa06601&year=2002&group=1&estimate=1. September 12, 2008.

Data Source: National Juvenile Court Data Archive. National Center for Juvenile Justice. Pittsburgh, PA.