NCJ Number
177598
Date Published
1999
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This overview of crime and justice in the United States in 1999 addresses changes in violent crime rates and arrest rates for violent crimes committed by juveniles, trends in State correctional populations, and State crime legislation passed in 1998.
Abstract
Between 1992 and 1997, 35 States along with the District of Columbia, experienced decreased rates of serious violent crime. Between 1992 and 1997, approximately half the States experienced increases in the juvenile arrest rate for serious violent crimes, and the other half showed decreases. The average decrease for States whose juvenile violent crime rate dropped was 25.5 percent. Regarding trends in State correctional populations, since 1980 the numbers of prisoners, new court commitments, and releases from State prisons have risen by a yearly average of 8.1 percent, 5.5 percent, and 7.9 percent, respectively. In recent years, the trends in commitments and releases have slowed or reversed. Between 1992 and 1997, the number of prisoners increased in every State but one; the average increase was 32.9 percent. In 1998, 40 States enacted crime legislation that pertained to adults, and 31 passed laws that affect juveniles. Crime legislation related to adults focused on sex offenders; sentencing, probation, and parole; drug abuse; capital crimes; lawsuits filed by prisoners; corrections; and crime victims. Crime legislation related to juveniles addressed crimes committed in schools; the management of juveniles as adults; opening juvenile proceedings and records; victims' rights in cases in which the offender was a juvenile; juvenile sex offenders; expanding dispositions, sanctions, and treatment for juvenile offenders; detention and incarceration of juvenile offenders; and juvenile status offenders and delinquency prevention. 7 references