Disposition

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

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Disposition

Q:	Has there been an increase in the number of delinquency cases ordered to formal probation or residential placement?
A:	Nearly all the growth in the number of cases in which the youth was placed on formal probation or ordered to a residential facility took place between 1985 and 1997.

Note: Cases are categorized according to their most severe disposition.

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In dispositional hearings, juvenile court judges must determine the most appropriate sanction for delinquent youth. Disposition options include commitment to an institution or another residential facility; probation; or a variety of other dispositions, such as referral to an outside agency or treatment program, community service, fines, or restitution. Very often the court imposes some combination of these sanctions.
The number of adjudicated delinquency cases resulting in residential placement increased 69% between 1985 and 1997 and then decreased 23% through 2005. In 2005, adjudicated juveniles were ordered to residential placement in 140,100 delinquency cases—22% of all adjudicated delinquency cases.
The number of adjudicated delinquency cases resulting in formal probation nearly doubled between 1985 and 1997, then changed little through 2005. In 2005, formal probation was the most restrictive disposition ordered in 373,400 delinquency cases—60% of all adjudicated delinquency cases.
The number of adjudicated delinquency cases receiving other court ordered sanctions increased 193% between 1985 and 2005. In 2005, other sanctions, such as community service and restitution, were imposed in 110,400 delinquency cases—18% of all adjudicated delinquency cases.

Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/ojstatbb/court/qa06501.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.