This report presents statistical trends in the number, demographics, and offenses of justice-involved youth in residential placement from 1999 to 2019.
Relative declines in the number of confined justice-involved youth from 1999 to 2019 were greater for post-disposition committed youth (73 percent) than pre-disposition detained youth (50 percent). The proportion of detained and committed youth held for a person offense increased between 2011 and 2019. Youth detention rates were lower for all racial/ethnic groups in 2019 compared to 2011, except for American Indian youth. In 2019, youth over age 16, males, and white youth accounted for a larger share of the committed population than the detained population. In 2019, half of detained youth remained in placement 3 weeks after admission; half of committed youth remained in placement after 16 weeks. Since 1997, commitment rates have declined for Asian (93 percent), Hispanic (85 percent), Black (76 percent). White (67 percent), and American Indian (60 percent) youth. 6 figures