The NCJJ and OJJDP’s Data Snapshot series helps disseminate current research about youth in the juvenile justice system. Each one-page Snapshot focuses on a specific topic (e.g., juveniles in residential placement, characteristics of youth residential placement facilities, youth victims of violence) and highlights policy-relevant findings. This Data Snapshot highlights changes in where youth are placed and the screenings provided based on OJJDP’s Juvenile Residential Facility Census data collection.
This data snapshot draws on data from OJJDP’s Juvenile Residential Facility Census to describe changes in where youth are placed and services provided. Data shows that the number of youth in placement fell by 77 percent between 2000 and 2020. The proportion of facilities that are locally operated has increased, as has the proportion of youth in these facilities. The majority of facilities reported screening all or some of youth for service needs within one week of admission. The proportion of facilities operating over capacity has declined since 2000. The proportion of small facilities has increased, but a larger proportion of youth are still held in medium-sized facilities.