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Juveniles in Court
Detention
Q: Do trends in the use of detention vary by offense?
A: For all but drug offense cases, the proportion of cases involving detention changed very little between 1985 and 2005-varying 4 to 8 percentage points.
Percentage of cases detained, 1985-2005

[ Text only ]  [ Excel file ]

  • Juvenile courts sometimes hold youth in secure detention facilities during court processing of their case. Depending on the State's detention laws, the court may decide detention is necessary to ensure the juvenile's appearance at subsequent court hearings, to protect the community from the juvenile, or to secure the juvenile's own safety. Detention may also be ordered for the purpose of evaluating the juvenile.
  • The likelihood of detention for juveniles charged with drug offense cases peaked in 1989 but varied more than other offenses between 1985 and 2005. In 1989, juveniles were detained in 35% of drug cases; by 2005, it had decreased to 18%.
  • The likelihood of detention for juveniles was lower in 2005 than in 1985 for property, drug, and public order offense cases.
Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/ojstatbb/court/qa06303.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.

 

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