NCJ Number
217265
Journal
Alaska Justice Forum Volume: 23 Issue: 2 Dated: Summer 2006 Pages: 1-8
Date Published
2006
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This Alaska Justice Forum newsletter presents information about juvenile referral, arrest, and detention in Alaska.
Abstract
According to a study by the Justice Center at the University of Alaska Anchorage, in 2002 minority youths were referred to the Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) at much higher rates than White youths and at rates higher than their proportion in the population. Minority youth comprised 34 percent of the overall juvenile population of Anchorage but represented 61 percent of all juvenile referrals to DJJ in 2002. The highest numbers of juvenile referrals were for youths who lived in the north central part of the city, however youth from all minorities in all census tracts in Anchorage were more likely to be referred to DJJ than White juveniles. Juvenile arrest figures are also presented, which indicate that for the period 1995 to 2004, total juvenile arrests in Alaska ranged between 15 percent and 18 percent of all arrests statewide. Most juvenile arrests involved property offenses. Indeed, in 2003, juveniles represented 43.6 percent of all property offense arrests in Alaska. In comparison, juveniles represented 15.1 percent of all arrests for violent crimes in 2003. When juveniles are placed in secure detention in Alaska, they are usually only held for a short time. At the end of June 2006, 248 juveniles were being held in detention facilities or long-term treatment facilities. Data were drawn from the Uniform Crime Reporting Program of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and from a study on Anchorage youths referred to the DJJ between July 2004 and June 2005. Participants in this study included 1,936 juveniles and analysis focused on their demographic characteristics. The newsletter also contains an announcement about the completion of a new arraignment rights video DVD by the Justice Center and the Alaska Court System. Tables, figures