NCJ Number
95258
Date Published
1983
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This report presents a statistical summary of the characteristics of juveniles committed to the Virginia Department of Corrections for 1977-82, using a time series analysis of the records of the 7,677 children committed over that period.
Abstract
Characteristics of these children are analyzed for discernible trends in race and sex, committing offense, intelligence, and recidivism. Overall, the juvenile commitment rate has remained constant at an average of 1,300 per year for the past 10 years. There is no indication that the Department is getting more serious offenders or that recidivism is increasing. Normal intelligence remains the mode of all children committed. The age distribution of committed children shows little systematic change. The only change noted was a trend toward committing older children, displacing younger children.