NCJ Number
241905
Date Published
November 2011
Length
121 pages
Annotation
Following a description of the organization and mission of the Texas juvenile probation system, this annual activity report presents statistics and information on juvenile referral activity for calendar years 2009 and 2010, juvenile disposition and supervision activity in these years, and juvenile detention and residential placement activity in these years.
Abstract
During 2010, Texas police agencies processed 116,498 arrests of juveniles between the ages of 10 and 16. Of this number, 49,783 were warned and released, handled in justice and municipal courts, or diverted; and 66,715 were referred to juvenile probation departments. Schools, probation departments, municipal courts, and the Texas Youth Commission (TYC) referred another 19,833 cases, for a total of 86,548 referrals to juvenile probation departments. This is a decrease of 8,713 (9 percent) referrals from 2009. Delinquent offenses decreased 8 percent from 2009; within the delinquent category, homicide felony offense referrals decreased 22 percent, from 72 in 2009 to 56 in 2010. Violation of probation referrals decreased 5 percent, and misdemeanor and contempt offense referrals decreased 14 percent. In 2010, a total of 42,850 juveniles were held in secure detention prior to adjudication hearings. Approximately 21 percent of those detained were released in less than 1 day; 9,979 placements were made to residential facilities, generally following the juvenile's disposition. Dispositions were made in 90,429 juvenile cases in 2010. Juvenile probation departments disposed of 35,918 of these cases, with 7,167 cases dismissed or withdrawn. A total of 37,967 cases were resolved by the juvenile court. Of these, the court ordered supervisory caution for 441 cases, deferred prosecution for 4,130 cases, new or modified probation in 22,076 cases, certified and transferred to adult court 216 juveniles, and committed 1,114 juveniles to the Texas Youth Commission. Dispositions most often resulted in supervision. In 2010, 27 percent of cases were disposed to probation. Extensive tables and figures