Mark A. Greenwald, M.J.P.M

1
Juvenile Delinquency Trends in Florida
Mark A. Greenwald, M.J.P.M Florida Department of
Juvenile Justice Office of Research
Data Walter A. McNeil, Secretary
2
TREND

• Following 39 growth during the 1990s, the
  juvenile population (ages 10 - 17) in Florida is
  predicted to increase by 10 during the current
  decade.

3
2,168,521
1,221,636
4
TREND

• During the eleven years from 1983-84 through
  1994-95 Florida experienced dramatic increases in
  juvenile crime.
• During the eleven years since then this picture
  has been very different.

5
175,105
145,723
Source Florida Department of Juvenile Justice,
Office of Research and Data (August 2007)
6
108,382
91,365
Source Florida Department of Juvenile Justice,
Office of Research and Data (August 2007)
7
Source Florida Department of Juvenile Justice,
Office of Research and Data (August 2007)
8
124
79
Source Florida Department of Juvenile Justice,
Office of Research and Data (August 2007)
9
89
Juvenile Arrests
11
Juvenile Arrests
10
TREND

• Some of the greatest decreases in juvenile cases
  were for serious and violent crimes, however this
  trend appears to be reversing.

11
92,055
70,098
Source Florida Department of Juvenile Justice,
Office of Research and Data (August 2007)
12
63,279
48,367
Source Florida Department of Juvenile Justice,
Office of Research and Data (August 2007)
13
162
123
Source Florida Department of Juvenile Justice,
Office of Research and Data (August 2007)
14
1,947
1,343
Source Florida Department of Juvenile Justice,
Office of Research and Data (August 2007)
15
4,515
1,434
Source Florida Department of Juvenile Justice,
Office of Research and Data (August 2007)
16
TREND

• The number of juvenile cases transferred to adult
  court in Florida has declined substantially in
  the late 90s, but has risen in recent years.

17
4,075
Source Florida Department of Juvenile Justice,
Office of Research and Data (August 2007)
18
TREND

• The proportion of black youth at every stage of
  the juvenile justice system substantially exceeds
  their representation in the population of youth
  10 - 17 years of age.

19
Source Florida Department of Juvenile Justice,
Office of Research and Data (August 2007)
20
TREND

• The percentage of youth referred for delinquency
  who are female has grown from 24 to 30 since
  the early 90s.
• The number of males referred for delinquency has
  declined significantly in recent years, while the
  number of females has not.

21
70
76
30
24
Source Florida Department of Juvenile Justice,
Office of Research and Data (August 2007)
22

• Delinquency in Floridas Schools

23
Source Florida Department of Juvenile Justice,
Office of Research and Data (August 2007)
24
Key Data Point

• 64 of school-related referrals were for
  misdemeanor offenses.
• Disorderly Conduct and Misdemeanor Assault and
  Battery accounted for 40 of all school-related
  delinquency referrals.

25
Source Florida Department of Juvenile Justice,
Office of Research and Data (August 2007)
26
Case Flow Through Floridas Juvenile Justice
System
27
August 31,2007