Fast Facts about Juvenile Offenders
- The United States incarcerates more of its youth than any other country in the world. According to the 2012 data, U.S. law enforcement agencies made over 1.3 Million arrests of persons younger than 18 years old.
- Nearly 7,000 Dallas Youth between the ages of 10 and 17 enter the juvenile justice system every year.
- In Texas, 50% of people released from jail return. 30-40% of youth will be re-arrested one year after their release.
- Young offenders who are released a second time are even more likely to end up behind bars again.
- In the past Juvenile detention facilities have used a more punitive Boot Camp approach, however, in Texas they have been shifting to address the trauma that these young people have experienced through therapy focused on their emotional development.
- By completing a post-release program like Cafe Momentum, the chances of previous offenders ending up in jail a second time decreases from 50% to just 14%.