Justice Department Study Finds Juveniles in Residential Placement Dropped 65 Percent Between 1997 and 2019

      WASHINGTON – A bulletin published by the Office of Justice Programs’ Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and National Institute of Justice reported that the number of juveniles in residential placement facilities declined 65 percent between 1997 and 2019 to 36,479, its lowest level since the data collection began in 1997.  The findings are based on a biennial survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau on behalf of OJJDP.

      The bulletin, Juveniles in Residential Placement, 2019, also reports that females accounted for 15 percent of the youth placement population in 2019, and they tended to be slightly younger than male residents.  Black youth accounted for the largest share of youth in placement in 2019 (41 percent).

The bulletin’s findings are based on the 2019 Census of Juveniles in Residential Placement, a biennial survey detailing the characteristics of youth held for delinquency and status offenses in public and private residential facilities in every state.  The data provide a detailed picture of these youth, including their age, gender, race, offenses and adjudication status.

      TITLE:  Juveniles in Residential Placement, 2019

      AUTHOR:  Sarah Hockenberry, National Center for Juvenile Justice

      HERE:  https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/publications/juveniles-in-residential-placement-2019.pdf

      The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and strengthen the criminal and juvenile justice systems.  More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

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OFFICE:  ojjdp.ojp.gov
CONTACT:  Kara McCarthy at 202-307-1241 or [email protected]