2003 Annual Report:

North Dakota Courts Annual Report 2003

Juvenile Caseload

This year's data shows a slight increase in juvenile offenses. However, because of relatively low numbers, comparing numbers for just two years may not reflect a true trend. For example, overall referrals showed a decline of 4% between 2001 and 2002 and a decrease of 1% from 2002 and 2003.

As with the criminal caseload, the low violent crime rate in North Dakota is reflected in its juvenile court statistics. Offenses against persons made up 6% of the juvenile court caseload. Meanwhile, status offenses (offenses which only a child can commit) made up 19% of the caseload. Property offenses comprise 21%; traffic offense, 5%; deprivation, 9%; and other delinquency, 40% of the juvenile caseload.

The method by which cases were disposed shows a continued reliance on adjusted/diverted proceedings. Of the cases heard, 58% were disposed of through adjusted/diverted proceedings in 2003, compared to 50% in 2002 and 47% in 2001. The use of informal probation adjustments decreased in 2003. The formal juvenile court caseload reflects a increase over previous years. Tables comparing the types of dispositions and reasons for referral to the juvenile court in 2002 and 2003 follow. As in previous years, the illegal possession or purchase of alcoholic beverages continues to be the most common single reason for referral to the juvenile court.

Types of Juvenile Court Dispositions

for 2002 and 2003

Judicial District	Formal 2002 2003		Informal/Probation 2002 2003		Adjusted/Diverted 2002 2003		Total Dispositions 2002 2003		Percent Diff.
East Central	679	845	605	550	775	1,042	2,059	2,437	18.4
Northeast	390	283	370	81	832	974	1,592	1,338	-16.0
NE Central	382	466	410	300	390	522	1,182	1,288	9.0
Northwest	228	379	163	208	1,087	1,033	1,478	1,620	9.6
South Central	386	371	280	157	1,520	1,398	2,186	1,926	-11.9
Southeast	258	321	657	229	501	880	1,416	1,430	1.0
Southwest	144	165	185	45	229	348	558	558	0.0
TOTAL	2,467	2,830	2,670	1,570	5,334	6,197	10,471	10,597	1.2

Reasons for Referral to Juvenile Court Services

in 2002 and 2003

		2002	2003	% Diff.
FAMILY		1,933	2,023	4.7
	Runaway (instate resident) Runaway (out-of-state resident) Truancy Ungovernable Behavior Curfew Other Unruly	522 15 283 680 326 107	589 12 266 701 393 62	12.8 -20.0 -6.0 3.1 20.6 -42.1
DELINQUENCY		7,752	7,403	-4.5
	Offenses Against Persons Assault Terrorizing-Stalking-Menacing Homicide (negligent) Kidnapping Other Offenses Against Persons Sex Offenses	698 605 0 0 4 22 67	626 406 120 4 N/A 20 76	-10.3 -32.9 N/A N/A N/A -9.1 13.4
	Offenses Against Property Arson/Fire Related Burglary Criminal Mischief/Vandalism Criminal Trespass Forgery Other Property Offenses Possession of Stolen Property Robbery Shoplifting Theft	2,456 5 277 459 163 30 15 0 8 678 821	2,179 21 191 408 139 20 49 85 7 594 665	-11.3 20.0 -31.0 -11.1 -14.7 -33.3 226.7 N/A -12.5 -12.4 -19.0
	Traffic Offenses DUI/Physical Control Driving without License Other Traffic	512 113 297 102	487 87 313 87	-4.9 -23.0 5.4 -14.7
	Other Offenses Check Offenses City Ordinances Disorderly Conduct Weapons Game and Fish Obstruction Other Public Order Possession/Purchase Alcohol Controlled Substance - Possession Tobacco	4,086 33 77 663 51 82 12 267 2,277 520 23 81	4,111 27 50 748 20 77 0 280 2,342 506 21 40	.6 -18.2 -35.1 12.8 -60.8 -6.1 -100.0 4.9 2.9 -2.7 -8.7 -50.6
DEPRIVATION		751	923	22.9
	Abandonment Abuse/Neglect Deprived	0 124 627	3 156 764	N/A 25.8 21.9
SPEC. PROCEEDING		127	91	-28.3
	Termination of Parental Rights (Involuntary) Termination of Parental Rights (Voluntary) Other Special Proceeding	54 37 36	35 45 11	-35.2 21.6 -69.4
TOTAL		10,563	10,440	-1.2