The Relationship of Juvenile Arrests to Texas Juvenile Probation Commission Referrals and Texas Youth Commission Confinements

Abstract

Although much research has been done to examine juvenile delinquency in terms of the characteristics of juveniles, very little has been undertaken to study the connection between juvenile arrests, referrals, and confinements. This study examines the relationships between juvenile arrests, referrals, and confinements in Texas to determine if there are significant correlations based on the juvenile’s age and offense committed. Using records from the Texas Department of Public Safety juvenile arrests, Texas Juvenile Probation Commission referrals, and Texas Youth Commission confinements for the years 1995 to 2003, this study compares aggregated and individual year data from each of the agencies to ascertain relationships through the correlation of the data. Significant relationships were discovered between certain age and offense categories, and were found more often between aggregated rather than individual year data. When the relationship between the general juvenile population, arrests, TJPC referrals and TYC commitments are analyzed, the findings may be used as the basis to forecast future arrests, referrals and commitments.