This report details the caseload and trends of U.S. juvenile courts from 1985 to 1994, focusing on delinquency and status offense cases. The document, authored by researchers from the U.S. Department of Justice, provides a comprehensive statistical overview of over 1.5 million delinquency cases and 126,000 status offender cases handled in 1994. It highlights significant increases in juvenile offenses against persons, which nearly doubled over the decade, and a 41% rise in overall delinquency cases. This analysis serves as a critical reference for policymakers, researchers, and the public to understand the dynamics of the juvenile justice system.

This report is presented as a reference guide intended to inform policymakers, researchers, and the public about the juvenile justice system. Its detailed statistics and trend analysis from 1985-1994 provide a factual basis for understanding the scope and nature of cases handled by juvenile courts. The inclusion of charts, tables, and a glossary suggests a focus on clarity and accessibility for a broad audience interested in criminal justice data.