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NC DPS »   Our Organization »   Juvenile Justice »   Did You Know

Did You Know?

  • In 2021, fewer complaints for more juveniles were received compared to 2020 (11,296 juveniles and 29,001 complaints in 2021 compared to 10,800 juveniles and 30,185 complaints in 2020).
  • The statewide delinquency rate for the juvenile justice system in 2021 was 17.53, down from 18.08 in 2000, the baseline year for a delinquency rate that includes “Raise the Age” youth. When comparing the pre-“Raise the Age” age group of 6 to 15-year-olds, the juvenile delinquency rate decreased from 12.05 in 2020 to 11.16 in 2021, the lowest juvenile delinquency rate on record by far.
  • In 2021, only 23% of complaints received were for school based offenses. The percentage of total complaints that are school based is typically 42-45%. 
  • Detention admissions have only increased 10% since 2020; however, length of stay has increased 28% since 2020 due to transfer to superior court length of stay being longer than juvenile justice system youth stays in detention. For the second year in a row, detention average daily population exceeds the youth development center average daily population.
  • 100% of juveniles committed to a youth development center have at least 1 mental health diagnosis. Youth committed to YDCs had an average of three distinct mental health and/or substance use disorder diagnoses, and in some cases as many as nine.
  • The number of youth age 16 or older served by Juvenile Crime Prevention Council programs increased 17% from 2020 to 2021 (from 3,869 to 4,511).
  • The total number of juvenile complaints in North Carolina decreased 17 percent between 2012 and 2021 (from 34,750 to 29,001).
  • The top three delinquent offenses in 2021 for which complaints were received were simple assault, break or enter a motor vehicle, and misdemeanor larceny.
  • The majority (52 percent) of juvenile offenses in 2021 were for non-serious offenses, class 1-3 misdemeanors. Offenses in this class include, but are not limited to, simple assault, simple affray, larceny (items worth less than $1,000), shoplifting, disorderly conduct, etc.
  • Most juvenile delinquent offenses occur between noon and 4 p.m. during the weekdays.
  • In 2021, there were 2,423 admissions to detention, 40 percent fewer than in 2012.
  • YDC commitments have dropped by 16 percent since 2012, from 216 in 2012 to 181 in 2021.
  • On any given day in 2021, you could find 149 juveniles who had been committed to a YDC, and the average length of time a youth is in commitment status is 11.8 months.
  • Juveniles are charged with simple assault more than any other crime. Breaking or entering a motor vehicle is defined by North Carolina General Statute 14-33 as "any person who commits a simply assault or a simple assault and battery or participates in a simple affray is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor."
  • In 2021, 9.1 percent of all juveniles who went through intake were identified as having gang involvement, association or membership.
     

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https://www.ncdps.gov/our-organization/juvenile-justice/did-you-know