NCJ Number
75509
Date Published
1973
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This collection of data tables shows characteristics by percent of totals, for Youth Authority wards in training institutions and on parole as of June 30 of each year from 1964 through 1973, with adjustments made in data to provide for uniformity over the years.
Abstract
During the 10 years covered by this report, the California civilian youth population in the 10-20-year age range increased from 3,368,000 to 4,236,000, a 26 percent increase. During the early years of the decade, the California Youth Authority institutional population increased almost in direct relation to the increase in the civilian population. Then in 1966, the institutional population began an overall decline which continued through 1972. The 1973 total increased solely for male wards. The parole caseload declined every year since 1967, due to decreased commitments to parole because of the Probation Subsidy Program. The 1973 level was the same level as 1961. During the first 7 years, the percentage of male and female wards averaged 89 percent and 11 percent respectively. In the last 3 years of the reporting period, the percentage of male wards rose to 94 percent, while the female population declined to 6 percent. During the years 1964-1968, the Southern California area had an increasing proportion of the total institutional population. Beginning in 1969, the proportion began decreasing, and dropped 9 percentage points over a period of 1968-1972. By June 30, 1973, the trend had reversed, except for female wards, who reached an all-time high of 74 percent. The percentage of white male wards decreased by about 10 percent during the 10-year period, while commitments of black youths increased by about 9 percent. Among the female ward population, the white population has decreased slightly while the percentage of blacks committed has increased proportionally over the years. By 1973, the median age for males in institutions was 19.0 and the median for females was 18.3 years; the median ages for wards on parole are 20.5 and 19.6 respectively. Due to a policy change in committing youths to adult correctional facilities only in rare situations, the number of youths committed to adult correctional facilities in California decreased from 294 in 1964 to 3 in 1973.