Juvenile Justice Residential Facility Populations Down 77% Between 2000 & 2022

Between 2000 and 2020, the number of youths placed in a juvenile justice residential facility dropped by 77%, from 108,802 to 25,014. The proportion of juvenile detention facilities operating over capacity declined from 8% in 2000 to 1% in 2020. The number of facilities operating under capacity increased from 57% in 2000 to 85% in 2020. The remainder were operating at capacity in both years. Over the 20-year period, more facilities are locally operated, and more are considered small because they house fewer than 21 youth.

The proportion of facilities that are locally operated has increased, as . . .