NCJ Number
77103
Date Published
1979
Length
29 pages
Annotation
The data in this report reflect the characteristics of children committed to the care of the Virginia Department of Corrections during fiscal year 1979.
Abstract
Data were recorded on the Direct Care System's Intake, History, Clinical Assessment, and Educational Assessment forms submitted by the Court Service Units, the Reception and Diagnostic Center receives and tests all committed children. The report focuses on general characteristics, medical evaluations, and educational evaluations. In summary, of the 1,306 children committed in 1979, 62.8 percent were committed for offenses against property and 14 percent for crimes against persons. The most frequent property offense was breaking and entering (33.1 percent), and assault and battery was the most common offense against persons (53.6 percent). Furthermore, possession of narcotics made up 47.1 percent of all alcohol- or drug-related offenses. Females constituted 14.4 percent of all commitments; blacks, 39.8 percent; and whites, 60.2 percent. The average age of all children committed was 15.4 years, and the most frequent age at the first adverse contact with the community was 13 years. Average intelligence was noted for 50.3 percent, dull normal or below for 33.3 percent, retarded for 5.9 percent, and bright-normal and above for 10.5 percent. Children who were received only once at the reception center accounted for 83.4 percent. The largest portion of the children committed, 45.6 percent, were living with one parent and a stepparent at the time of commitment. A total of 60 percent had at least one previous psychological contact, 26.4 percent had previous psychiatric evaluations, and 11.7 percent of all children had a history of psychiatric hospitalization. Data are presented in tabular form and accompanied by a narrative summary.