NCJ Number
129531
Date Published
1990
Length
156 pages
Annotation
This report contains statistical data compiled by the Washington State Governor's Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee (GJJAC) on the juvenile population, juvenile arrests, juvenile court offense referrals, the minority detention population, juvenile rehabilitation, and juvenile parole.
Abstract
The mission of the GJJAC is to promote juvenile delinquency prevention and improve the juvenile justice system. The committee awards Federal funds to demonstration projects and conducts policy research studies on topics of special concern. The GJJAC reviews juvenile justice data and discusses problems requiring attention. Data show that 16,895 juveniles were held in 18 local detention facilities during 1989. Arrests for violent crimes increased from 3.5 per 1,000 juveniles in 1985 to 4.9 in 1989. About five times as many juveniles were arrested for alcohol-related offenses in 1989 as for drug offenses. Juveniles between 15 and 17 years of age accounted for nearly 40 percent of all property crime arrests in 1989. During 1990, projects funded by the GJJAC dealt with serious and violent offenders, juvenile detention, physically and sexually abused children, regional juvenile justice program development, and technical assistance and research. It was determined that Washington State does not provide an adequate response to runaway youth, that crisis residential centers are not being used as intended, that more out-of-home placements are needed for youth who cannot return home, that better followup services are needed for both youth and families, and that a lack of independent living skills assistance for older youth exists. Although the bulk of the report provides statistical data on juvenile offenders, a section describes the structure and functions of Washington State's juvenile justice system. 67 tables and 9 graphs