NCJ Number
113400
Date Published
1988
Length
3 pages
Annotation
A youth's second court appearance before age 16 may be an early warning sign of future delinquency, according to a new study ('Court Careers of Juvenile Offenders') on the court careers of juvenile offenders.
Abstract
The study analyzed the court careers of 69,504 youth born between 1962 and 1965 and processed by the juvenile courts in Maricopa County (Phoenix), Ariz., and in Utah. It examined the characteristics of a juvenile offender from the court's perspective and described the type and prevalence of offenses. Only 5 percent of the youth were ever charged with a violent offense, and less than 1 percent had more than one violent offense referral in their court career. Juveniles most likely to have a second court referral were originally charged with burglary, truancy, motor vehicle theft, or robbery. Youth least likely to commit a second offense were originally charged with underage drinking, running away, or shoplifting. Those referred for a violent offense had been or were likely to be charged with a wide range of delinquent behaviors. Study findings can help practitioners and policymakers devise new intervention programs and strategies for juveniles. 1 table, 1 figure.