NCJ Number
53448
Date Published
1978
Length
100 pages
Annotation
THIS COLLECTION OF CHARTS WITH COMMENTARY PRESENTS DATA ON JUVENILE ARRESTS BY COUNTY, AGE OF JUVENILE, AND TYPE OF CRIME, PLUS ANALYSES OF JUVENILE REFERRALS, CASE DISPOSITIONS, PETITIONS, DETENTIONS, AND COMMITMENTS.
Abstract
THE STATISTICS SUPPORT THE REPORT OF THE OREGON GOVERNOR'S TASK FORCE ON JUVENILE CORRECTIONS, WHICH WAS FORMED TO INVESTIGATE CROWDED CONDITIONS AT STATE TRAINING SCHOOLS. THE DATA CONFIRM THREE OBSERVATIONS WHICH WERE CENTRAL TO THE GROUP'S DELIBERATIONS: THERE IS A SHARP UPWARD TREND IN COMMITMENTS TO THE TRAINING SCHOOLS; THERE IS INCREASING USE OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR PROBLEMS AND MINOR OFFENSES THAT MIGHT BE HANDLED BETTER BY OTHER SOCIAL AGENCIES; AND AN INCREASING NUMBER OF CHILDREN ARE BEING DETAINED. BETWEEN 1975 AND 1977 REFERRALS FOR STATUS OFFENSES INCREASED 1 PERCENT AND REFERRALS FOR CRIMINAL OFFENSES INCREASED 14 PERCENT. ALTHOUGH THE NUMBER OF DETENTIONS FOR STATUS OFFENSES DECREASED BY ABOUT 23 PERCENT, THERE WAS STILL A GREATER CHANCE OF BEING DETAINED FOR A STATUS OFFENSE THAN FOR A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. THE FIGURES ALSO SHOW JUVENILE ARRESTS INCREASING FASTER THAN THE JUVENILE POPULATION, WITH NONURBAN AREAS CONTRIBUTING THE LARGEST PROPORTION OF ARRESTS. THE EFFECTS OF THE GENERAL POPULATION, ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION, AND RATES OF COMMITMENT ON TRAINING SCHOOL POPULATIONS ARE ALSO EXAMINED. APPENDIXES PRESENT THE METHODOLOGY USED TO GATHER THE DATA. THE NEED FOR STATEWIDE MANDATORY JUVENILE JUSTICE STATISTICAL REPORTING IS STRESSED. DATA COLLECTION FORMS, LETTERS RELATING TO THE PROJECT, AND DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED IN THE STUDY ARE INCLUDED. (GLR)