Drug Offense Cases in Juvenile Court, 1985-1994

• NCJ Number: 198495
• Author(s): Jeffrey A. Butts Ph.D.
• Date Published: February 1997
• Length: 2 pages
• Agencies: OJJDP
• Publication Type: Statistics

Annotation

This report provides statistical information on drug offense cases in juvenile court in the United States from 1985 to 1994 with specific data on gender, race, detention, and procession method.

Abstract

In 1994, juvenile courts in the United States handled an estimated 120,200 delinquency cases involving drug violations with drug offenses accounting for 8 percent of all delinquency cases in 1994. This report analyzes only cases in which a drug offense was the most serious charge. In 1994, drug offense cases processed were 35 percent greater than 1993 and 82 percent higher than in 1991. Between 1991 and 1994, the number of drug cases involving white juveniles increased 118 percent. Males were involved in 86 percent of drug offense cases in 1994. In 1994, more than 28 percent of the drug offense cases that juvenile courts disposed of involved the use of secure detention. Sixty-one percent of drug offense cases were handled formally by filing a petition requesting a hearing with 63 percent of the cases that were not adjudicated being dismissed. The most severe disposition imposed in 28 percent of the adjudicated drug offense cases was placement out of the home with probation imposed in 52 percent of the cases.