Robbery Cases in Juvenile Court, 1989-1998

• NCJ Number: 193440
• Author(s): Paul Harms
• Date Published: February 2002
• Length: 2 pages
• Agencies: OJJDP
• Publication Type: Statistics

Annotation

This report provides data and information on the number and disposition of robbery cases in juvenile courts throughout the country for the period 1989 through 1998, as well as any processing differences for males and females.

Abstract

In 1998 juvenile courts processed an estimated 29,600 robbery cases. Between 1989 and 1995, the robbery caseload increased 76 percent to a peak of 40,400 cases in 1995. The robbery caseload declined 27 percent between 1995 and 1998; however, juvenile courts processed 29 percent more cases in 1998 than in 1989. Males accounted for the majority of juvenile robbery cases processed between 1989 and 1998, although the robbery caseload increased from 1989 through 1995 for both males and females. During this period, the increase in the female robbery caseload was greater than for males (100 percent compared to 74 percent). Between 1995 and 1998, the robbery caseload declined by 30 percent for females and 26 percent for males. Most adjudicated robbery cases resulted in placement or probation in 1998. Of the robbery cases referred to juvenile courts, 12 percent were processed informally, and more than half of these (57 percent) were dismissed. Of the cases processed formally (88 percent), 3 percent were judicially waived to criminal court, and 62 percent resulted in the youth being adjudicated delinquent. In 6 percent of adjudicated cases, the youth was ordered to comply with specified sanctions such as restitution, community service, or fines; and in another 43 percent, the youth was placed in a residential facility. The court processing of juvenile robbery cases varied little for males and females. 3 tables