“The lesson is that you can still make mistakes and be forgiven.” – Robert Downey, Jr.
When your child finds themselves in the justice system, it does not have to be the end for them but you must act quickly. Juvenile justice courts move at a quick pace and you don’t want your child’s mistakes to potentially leave them with a lifelong record.
Court cases filed in the United States Juvenile courts in 2019, as noted in Sarah Hockenberry’s article Delinquency Cases in Juvenile Court[1], showed that in 2019 there was a decrease of about 2% in the total number of juvenile cases compared to 2018. There are three general categories which juvenile crimes most often fall into: person crimes, property offenses, drug offenses, and public order offenses. Below are the national statistics of juvenile offenders, has your child found themselves in one of these categories?
“In 2019, person offense cases, accounted for the largest portion of the delinquency crime load. While most juvenile cases showed a decrease between 2015 and 2019, the number involving criminal homicide increased considerably (49%).” Delinquency cases totaled 722,600 and fell in the following categories:
| PERSON OFFENSES | |
| Criminal homicide | 1,100 |
| Rape | 8,300 |
| Robbery | 18,600 |
| Aggravated assault | 25,700 |
| Simple Assault | 153,100 |
| Other violent offenses | 7,500 |
| PROPERTY OFFENSES | |
| Burglary | 38,600 |
| Larceny-theft | 89,600 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 15,300 |
| Arson | 2100 |
| Vandalism | 35,900 |
| Trespassing | 19,500 |
| Stolen property offenses | 7,000 |
| DRUG ORDER OFFENSES | 101,000 |
| PUBLIC ORDER OFFENSES | |
| Obstruction of justice | 90,500 |
| Disorderly conduct | 48,000 |
| Weapons offenses | 16,400 |
| Liquor law violations | 3,900 |
| Nonviolent sex offenses | 11,100 |
Boys vs. Girls in the Justice System
The statistics and data show that male juveniles are much more likely to find themselves in the juvenile justice system. From getting caught up with the wrong crowd to simple mischief and everything in between, male juveniles are the majority of delinquents in the American justice system. According to Hockenberry, “Nearly three quarters of the offenses adjudicated in court involved males. In 2019, juvenile courts handled 522,300 cases involving males, compared to 200,300 cases involving females.”
Juvenile justice systems and the long-term effects.
According to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), the likelihood of adjudication was less in 2019 than it was in 2005. That means, the justice system is likely prosecuting juveniles’ cases instead of working to resolve them through other rehabilitative methods. Studies and data have repeatedly shown that incarceration has negative impacts on juveniles. According to the article The Dangers of Detention, written by Barry Holman and Jason Ziedenberg, “youth who are incarcerated are more likely to recidivate than youth who are supervised in a community-based setting, or not detained at all.[2]”
Enlist the Help of a Qualified Attorney Today
If you have been searching the Mississippi area for a qualified, experienced criminal defense attorney, look no further than Vic Carmody Jr., P.A. Over the years, we have helped numerous defendants pursue favorable outcomes. Although it might be almost impossible to avoid consequences if you have robbed multiple banks, there are many potential defense strategies that can limit penalties as much as possible. Book your consultation today to learn more.
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[1] Hockenberry, Sarah, Juvenile Justice Statistics: Delinquency Cases in Juvenile Court, US Dept. of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/publications/delinquency-cases-2019.pdf
[2] Holman, Barry, and Jason Zeidenburg, Dangers of Detention: The Impact of Incarcerating Youth in Detention and Other Secure Facilities, U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, 2013. ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/dangersdetention-impact-incarcerating-youth-detention-and-other