Juvenile Delinquency Statistics for Morgan County 1996

Index

Introduction:

During calendar year 1996, 322 juvenile delinquency cases were presented to the Morgan Superior Court No. 2 for disposition. Of these 322 cases, 167 cases were resolved through formal juvenile court proceedings and disposition, and 155 cases were resolved by informal adjustment through the Morgan County Probation Department.

In comparing adult criminal cases filed in all of the Morgan Circuit and Superior Courts with the juvenile delinquency cases formally filed with Superior Court No. 2, we note the following:

• 9% of all residential burglary charges filed in 1996 were committed by juveniles -- down from 79% in 1995.
• 5% of all non-residential burglary charges filed in 1996 were committed by juveniles -- down from 72% in 1995.
• 22% of all Theft charges and and 6% of all Receiving Stolen Property charges filed in 1996 were committed by juveniles -- down from 33% (Theft) and 38% (Receiving) in 1995.
• 6% of all Auto Theft charges filed in 1996 were committed by juveniles -- down from 20% in 1995.
• 18% of all Residential Entry charges filed in 1996 were committed by juveniles -- up from 12.5% in 1995.

Secure Detention Costs

The total per diem costs to Morgan County of placing juvenile delinquent offenders in secure detention facilities prior to disposition decreased in 1996, as compared to 1995. According to the weekly detention statistics maintained by the Morgan Superior Court No. 2, the costs of secure detention of juvenile delinquent offenders in 1996 totalled approximately $222,561.00 (average cost: $609.00 per day). By comparison, the costs of secure detention of juvenile delinquent offenders in 1995 totalled approximately $268,507.00 (average cost: $735.00 per day).

Overcrowding in county-level secure juvenile detention facilities continues be problematic for the Courts, as does overcrowding in Department of Correction juvenile facilities. As of December 17, 1996:

• the Logansport Juvenile Intake facility was 133% over capacity (increase from 119% during the same period in 1995) resulting in delays in admitting juvenile offenders to the Department of Correction;
• the Indianapolis Juvenile Correctional Facility [for female juveniles] was 20% over capacity (down from 28% during the same period in 1995);
• all Department of Correction juvenile facilities, combined, were 8% over capacity (down from 16% during the same period in 1995).

Juvenile Probation Supervision Stats

As of January 1, 1996, 131 juvenile delinquency cases were under supervision by the Juvenile Probation officers of Morgan County. During 1996, 271 new probation cases were referred to probation supervision; of that total, 116 Delinquents and Status offenders were placed under formal probation supervision, and 145 Delinquents and Status offenders were placed under informal probation adjustment and supervision. Also during 1996, 251 probation cases were completed and closed. As of December 31, 1996, 151 juvenile delinquency cases were open and under supervision by the Juvenile Probation officers.

Here is a table summarizing Juvenile Delinquency Probation Cases supervisions for 1996:

Waiver of Jurisdiction in Juvenile Delinquency Cases to Adult Court

In 1996, 12 juvenile delinquency cases filed with the Morgan Superior Court No. 2 were waived to adult criminal court for disposition (an increase of 50% from 8 cases waived in 1995) under the waiver of jurisdiction provisions of the Indiana Juvenile Code. In addition, and as a result of changes in the juvenile code enacted by the General Assembly, several new classifications of criminal offenses committed by persons under age 18 are now filed directly in adult criminal court.

Commitments to D.O.C. juvenile facilities

In 1996, 23 juvenile delinquency cases filed resulted in commitment of the juvenile to a Department of Correction juvenile facility (up 77% from 13 cases in 1995). 15 of these cases involved male juvenile offenders (up 67% from 9 cases in 1995), and 8 of these cases involved female juvenile offenders (up 100% from 4 cases in 1995).

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Crime Statistics:

Morgan County Juvenile/Adult Crime Stats Sheet - 1996

Comparison of Formal Charges filed by State of Indiana against Juveniles/Adults in Morgan County

Source: Morgan Circuit and Superior Courts JTS Records, 1996

Property Crimes:

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Crimes Against Persons:

Drugs and Alcohol:

Vehicle Crimes:

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Other Crimes:

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©  Christopher L. Burnham, 1997