NCJ Number
197489
Date Published
October 2000
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes juvenile cases handled by West Virginia probation officers in 1999.
Abstract
In West Virginia, juvenile proceedings fall under the jurisdiction of the State's circuit court. The court may refer a case to juvenile probation to determine whether the case can be resolved informally. Juvenile probation also receives case referrals from other entities such as law enforcement and the Department of Health and Human Resources. West Virginia juvenile probation officers handled more than 8,000 cases involving nearly 7,000 juveniles in 1999. Property offenses were charged more frequently than any other offense category, although assault was the most frequently charged individual offense. Theft and property damage were the second and third most frequent offenses, comprising almost one-third of all delinquency offenses charged. Truancy was the most frequently charged status offense. Data in this report were taken from the Juvenile Probation Database, which is compiled from forms completed by juvenile probation officers across the State. The database is a cooperative partnership between the Division of Criminal Justice Services and the Administrative Office of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Juvenile Probation Services. Figures, tables