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 4.6% of the juvenile court caseload. Meanwhile, status offenses (offenses which only a minor child can commit) made up 18.2% of the caseload. Other major categories area property offenses, 22.6%; traffic offense, 3.9%; deprivation, 4.7%; and other filings, 46%.
The method by which cases were disposed shows a continued reliance on adjusted/diverted proceedings. Of the cases heard, 55% were disposed of through adjusted/diverted
proceedings in 1999, compared to 54% in 1998 and 54% in 1997. The use of informal probation adjustments decreased again in 1999. Twenty-five percent of the cases were disposed of through this process in 1999; 24% in 1998 and 26% in 1997. The formal juvenile court caseload reflects an 18% decrease in filings. This report has historically included formal juvenile cases that were dismissed. These dismissals were not included in 1999 data and will not be reported in the future. When dismissals were included for 1999, the formal caseload was 2,855, a 1.2% increase over the 1998 caseload of 2,821. Tables comparing the types of dispositions and reasons for referral to the juvenile court in 1998 and 1999 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 1999 AND 1998
| Judicial District | Formal 1999 1998 | Informal/ Probation 1999 1998 | Adjusted/ Diverted 1999 1998 | Total Dispositions 1999 1998 | Percent Diff. | ||||
| East Central | 580 | 897 | 483 | 600 | 544 | 585 | 1,607 | 2,082 | -22.8 |
| Northeast | 354 | 428 | 101 | 215 | 1,170 | 1,073 | 1,625 | 1,716 | -5.3 |
| NE Central | 379 | 395 | 306 | 298 | 704 | 879 | 1,389 | 1,572 | -11.6 |
| Northwest | 258 | 310 | 782 | 745 | 989 | 962 | 2,029 | 2,017 | 0.6 |
| South Central | 359 | 376 | 617 | 586 | 1,664 | 2,074 | 2,640 | 3,036 | -13.0 |
| Southeast | 253 | 271 | 391 | 428 | 809 | 779 | 1,453 | 1,478 | -1.7 |
| Southwest | 130 | 144 | 128 | 106 | 395 | 366 | 653 | 616 | 6.0 |
| TOTAL | 2,313 | 2,821 | 2,808 | 2,978 | 6,275 | 6,718 | 11,396 | 12,517 | -9.0 |
REASONS FOR REFERRAL TO JUVENILE COURT SERVICES IN 1999 AND 1998
| 1999 | 1998 | % Diff. | ||
| FAMILY | 2,173 | 2,331 | -6.8 | |
| Runaway (instate resident) | 602 | 780 | -22.8 | |
| Runaway (out-of-state resident) | 9 | 9 | 0.0 | |
| Truancy | 312 | 317 | -1.6 | |
| Ungovernable Behavior | 549 | 567 | -3.2 | |
| Conduct/Control Violations | 67 | 42 | 59.5 | |
| Curfew | 456 | 350 | 30.3 | |
| Other Unruly | 178 | 266 | -33.1 | |
| DELINQUENCY | 8,933 | 9,360 | -4.6 | |
| Offenses Against Persons | 555 | 688 | -19.3 | |
| Assault | 372 | 465 | -20.0 | |
| Homicide (attempted) | 1 | 2 | -50.0 | |
| Kidnapping | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | |
| Other Offenses Against Persons | 125 | 139 | -10.1 | |
| Sex Offenses | 57 | 82 | -30.5 | |
| Offenses Against Property | 2.700 | 3,157 | -14.5 | |
| Arson | 4 | 8 | -50.0 | |
| Burglary | 182 | 183 | -0.5 | |
| Criminal Mischief/Vandalism | 525 | 625 | -16.0 | |
| Criminal Trespass | 202 | 302 | -33.1 | |
| Forgery | 44 | 48 | -8.3 | |
| Other Property Offenses | 124 | 116 | 6.9 | |
| Robbery | 10 | 9 | 11.1 | |
| Shoplifting | 739 | 897 | -17.6 | |
| Theft | 870 | 969 | -10.2 | |
| Traffic Offenses | 465 | 509 | -8.6 | |
| DUI/Physical Control | 108 | 105 | 2.9 | |
| Driving without License | 223 | 251 | -11.2 | |
| Other Traffic | 134 | 153 | -12.4 | |
| Other Offenses | 5,213 | 5,006 | 4.1 | |
| Disorderly Conduct | 632 | 545 | 16.0 | |
| Firearms | 39 | 42 | -7.1 | |
| Game and Fish | 86 | 85 | 1.2 | |
| Obstruction | 117 | 137 | -14.6 | |
| Other Public Order | 308 | 374 | -17.6 | |
| Possession/Purchase Alcohol | 3,079 | 2,781 | 10.7 | |
| Controlled Substance Violations | 504 | 517 | -2.5 | |
| Tobacco | 448 | 525 | -14.7 | |
| DEPRIVATION | 560 | 625 | -10.4 | |
| Abandonment | 7 | 4 | 75.0 | |
| Abuse/Neglect | 143 | 147 | -2.7 | |
| Deprived | 410 | 474 | -13.5 | |
| SPECIAL | 272 | 201 | 35.3 | |
| Termination of Parental Rights | 100 | 49 | 104.1 | |
| Termination of Parental Rights | 75 | 60 | 25.0 | |
| Other Special Proceeding | 97 | 92 | 5.4 | |
| TOTAL | 11,938 | 12,517 | -4.6 |