Adjudication

In 1997, 52% of petitioned status offense cases handled by juvenile courts resulted in formal adjudication (figure 19).³ Ungovernability, truancy, and liquor law violation cases had a similar likelihood of adjudication (figure 20). Proportionately fewer runaway cases were adjudicated. The proportion of petitioned status offense cases resulting in adjudication declined from 66% to 52% between 1988 and 1997 (table 57). The proportion of petitioned cases resulting in adjudication declined in each of the four major offense categories between 1988 and 1997.