NCJ Number
91609
Date Published
1983
Length
166 pages
Annotation
Nearly 25,000 children were placed out of their homes in Minnesota in 1981, for such reasons as delinquency, status offenses, being the victim of abuse or neglect, and being voluntarily released by the parent.
Abstract
Although charges of dependency and neglect are almost always upheld in court, this does not automatically result in placement out of the home. However, almost all petitions to terminate parental rights are granted. Most delinquency cases brought to court involve minor offenses, such as petty theft and status offenses. A significant number of minor offenses result in out-of-home placement. In delinquency cases in the middle levels of severity, minorities are significantly more likely than whites to be placed out of the home. A total of 3,324 children where living in residential facilities in the summer of 1972. The estimated total cost of all placements in all facilities is $185 million per year. Far more boys than girls are in placement in all types of facilities except welfare group homes. One hundred and sixty-nine Minnesota children are in out-of-state placement, about half in residential facilities and half in homes of parents, relatives, or foster families. Footnotes, data tables, a description of the child placement system, extensive appendixes presenting supplementary information, and a bibliography listing about 150 references are supplied.