Preliminary National Assessment of the Numbers and Characteristics of Juveniles Processed in the Juvenile Justice System

• NCJ Number: 77157
• Author(s): T E Black; C P Smith
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 210 pages
• Grant Number(s): 77-JN-99-0008 (S-2); 77-JN-99-0008; 79-JN-AX-0013; 77-JN-99-0008 (S-1); 77-NI-99-0009
• Sponsoring Agency: US Securities and Exchange Cmssn
• Corporate Author: American Justice Institute
• Sale Source: Superintendent of Documents, GPO; National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Reports of the National Juvenile Justice Assessment Center.

Annotation

This report assesses nationally reported aggregate statistics on the number and characteristics of juvenile delinquents and status offenders under age 18 processed nationally by the official juvenile justice system.

Abstract

An information base for analysis was developed from a synthesis of nationally published juvenile justice statistics, collection and analysis of statewide published data, and a synthesis of the National Juvenile Justice Assessment Center's Phase I reports. In addition, literature reviews of research and demonstration projects, structured jurisdictional minisurveys, and a collection of juvenile statistics from a representative sample of typical jurisdictions were incorporated. Information from these sources was supplemented with data from key agency contact officials, and efforts were made to use 1977 as the most current year possible for all primary sources. Findings indicate that 2,508,961 persons under age 18 were arrested or were referred to the juvenile justice system in 1977. Of these, 90.7 percent were formally arrested by the police, with 49.4 percent given informal dispositions and dismissed. Police referred 50.6 percent of all arrests in 1977; no referral bias was found for age, race, or sex. In addition, court intake received 55.9 percent of all system referrals, and 52 percent were diverted. The prosecutor's office received approximately 1,177,084 cases in 1977, 42.9 percent of which were dismissed primarily because of lack of evidence. Cases involving serious offenses regardless of offender's age, race, or sex were generally detained, filed on, and given more restrictive dispositions; older children tended to be handled more harshly because of prior offense history. Recommendations concerning the processing of juveniles through the system and regarding data availability are given. The report suggests that serious offenders are the only juveniles institutionalized and that statistical sources should standardize data bases for more uniformity in making national estimates. Appendixes include a list of National Juvenile Justice System Assessment Center personnel, about 40 references, the assessment methodology, supplemental tables, and a flow chart. Diagrams, graphs, charts, and tables are used throughout the text. (Author abstract modified)