NCJ Number
206859
Date Published
2004
Length
111 pages
Annotation
This report presents 2003 juvenile justice statistics from the California Department of Justice.
Abstract
Data presented in this report were based on information submitted by 50 California county probation departments, representing approximately 97 percent of the State’s population. Comparisons of 2002 and 2003 data are offered for key decision points in the juvenile process. Data is presented about arrests, referrals, petitions, race/ethnic group representation, and adult dispositions. Data on arrests indicate that less than one-quarter of 1 percent of juveniles arrested during 2003 resulted in the juvenile being sent to adult court. Juveniles were most often arrested for misdemeanor and status offenses. Males dominated every juvenile arrest category in 2003 except for running away and incorrigibility, which were dominated by female juveniles. In terms of referrals, females accounted for 22 percent of referrals in 2003 and over one-third of the truancy and incorrigibility referrals to probation were for offenders aged 12 to 14 years. Race/ethnic group representation data reveal that Whites were over-represented in misdemeanor arrests for 2003, while Blacks were under-represented; Hispanics and Asian/Pacific Islanders were sent to adult court more than any other race/ethnic group during 2003. Hispanics were also over-represented in commitments to county facilities, while Blacks were over-represented in commitments to the Youth Authority. Blacks and Asian/Pacific Islanders were the subject of fitness hearings more than any other race/ethnic group in 2003. Data on adult dispositions indicate that during 2003, 54.3 percent of adult dispositions were for misdemeanor offenses and 68.1 percent of juveniles tried as adults were convicted. Blacks were convicted and committed to prison more than any other race/ethnic group. Figures, tables, appendixes