Juvenile Justice Decision Points Time Series

Definitions: (**Full link: Juvenile Justice Decision Points Definitions)

  • Arrests: Unique juvenile/offense entry date combinations where the youth was NOT in secure placement (Regional Youth Development Campus (RYDC) or Youth Development Campus (YDC)) at the time of the entry. Arrest category may represent referrals to law enforcement, juvenile court, or DJJ. Number of juvenile arrests represents number of unique referrals. Each referral can represent more than one charge.
  • Referrals: Defined as a unique juvenile / offense entry date combination. Multiple charges for the same youth entered on the same date, regardless of the "offense date" will be counted as one "case" or "referral". Referral category represents referral charges to juvenile court and DJJ. Multiple charges may be associated with a single referral.
  • Diversions: Cases where, among all charges in the case, the most serious outcome is a diversion. Diversions are informal adjustment, abeyance, diverted complaint withheld, mediation, and nolle prosequi. Diversion category represents the total number of cases diverted.
  • Secure Detentions: Contiguous periods of time spent in RYDCs. "New" means that the instance started during the reporting period. Transfers between RYDCs will NOT be counted as new episodes. Secure detention category represents the total number of new admissions to RYDC.
  • Petitions: Cases where, among all charges in the case, the most serious outcome is something other than a dismissal or diversion. Petition category represents petitioned cases to juvenile court. Multiple cases may be associated with a single petition.
  • Delinquent: Petitioned cases resulting in a delinquent finding. The charge must be a misdemeanor or felony. Delinquent category represents finding of delinquency in juvenile court. Multiple charges may be associated with a single finding of delinquency.
  • Commitment to DJJ: Petitioned cases where, among all charges in the case, the most serious outcome is a commitment to DJJ. Commitment category represents total number of unique cases resulting in commitment.
  • Secure Confinement: Contiguous periods of time spent in secure correctional confinement. "New" means that the instance started during the reporting period. Transfers between YDCs will NOT be counted as new instances. Secure confinement category represents the total number of youth placed in Long Term Youth Development Campus (LTYDC) or Short Term Program (STP).
  • Sentenced In Superior Court: Cases where, among all charges in the case, the most serious outcome is a superior court (adult) sentence. Cases sentenced in adult court category represents the total number of superior court sentences with a unique court date.