NCJ Number
171489
Date Published
1998
Length
21 pages
Annotation
Following a review of the trend in the Huron County Juvenile Court's (Ohio) workload and expenditures since 1982, this 1997 annual report of the court delineates the court's efforts in 1997 and provides tabular and graphic data on court cases and juveniles coming before the court, along with court expenditures.
Abstract
Since 1982 the court's workload has increased by 149 percent, with a 33-percent increase just since 1990. From 1982 to 1997 the court's county general fund expenditures have increased by 76 percent, from $396,671.00 to $697,557.00 in 1997. Delinquency and unruly cases have increased 31 percent since 1990, and drug-related cases have increased 425 percent since 1990; vandalism violations have increased 152 percent since 1990, and ungovernable and incorrigible behavior cases have doubled since 1990. The court has not waited to be overwhelmed by an ever- increasing workload, but has proactively sought State and Federal grants for prevention and early intervention. Such efforts have included mentoring programs, the Community Service Learning Program, a tutoring program, and alcohol and drug abuse intervention programs. Increased demands on the court, along with pressure from the State to decrease the use of State institutions, have greatly increased demands on the time and efforts of the court staff. Further, with the continuing increase in younger and more serious offenders, the court has a crisis in detention that should no longer be ignored. One table shows the number of male and female delinquents processed for unruly and traffic complaints by jurisdiction. The ages and residences of these juveniles are also provided, along with case dispositions. Data are presented on abused, dependent, and neglected complaints, as well as the use and cost of detention from 1982 through 1997. A statement of the court's philosophy and a roster of court employees are included as well.