Probation as a Court Disposition

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), Serving Children, Families, and Communities

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Q:	How many delinquency cases receive probation as the most restrictive disposition?
A:	Probation was ordered in 48% of the more than 1.1 million delinquency cases that received a juvenile court sanction in 2005.

Disposition of delinquency cases, 1985-2005

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In 2005, an estimated 556,500 delinquency cases resulted in a term of probation - 29% above the the number of cases placed on probation in 1985.
Adjudicated delinquents accounted for 67% (373,400) of all delinquency cases placed on probation in 2005. In the remaining delinquency cases, the youth agreed to some form of voluntary or informal probation.

Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/ojstatbb/probation/qa07102.asp?qaDate=2005. Released on September 12, 2008.

Adapted from Puzzanchera, C. and Sickmund, M. (2008). Juvenile Court Statistics 2005. Washington, D.C.: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.