| Record keeping on juveniles on probation is a function of the
local or state government, which vary greatly in terms of whether and how
records are kept, the types of information available, the unit at which the
information is collected, and their ability to synthesize information
regarding the population of juveniles on probation. Given the great
discrepancies at the state and local levels, it is no surprise that there is
no nation-wide format allowing for descriptions and analysis of the juvenile
probation population in terms of their demographics, offense histories, and
type of probation arrangements. Moreover, there are no available data on
case-loads for probation officers, types of services probationers receive,
nor are the any data on the other important functions offered by probation
agencies. To address this gap in juvenile justice statistics, the Office of
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has sponsored a survey
development project and data collection effort aimed at addressing these
gaps in national juvenile justice data. This paper describes results from
the pretesting process, presents the resulting data elements slated for
inclusion, and outlines the methods and time-line for quantitative field
testing, initial appearance, and data dissemination to the public and
research community.
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Updated 05/20/2006