ABSTRACT
At the disposition hearing, the juvenile court judge determines the more appropriate sanction or set of sanctions, generally after reviewing a predisposition (“presentence”) report prepared by a probation department. Here the range of options available to the judge is wide and typically includes commitment to an institution, placement in a foster or group home or other residential facility, probation, referral to an outside agency, day treatment or attendance center, mental health program, community correctional center (halfway house), or imposition of a fine, restitution, or community service. As shown in Figure 5.7 , probation is the sentence most often imposed. Probation services (for regular or intensive probation) must cope with heavy caseloads every year. For some youths, out-of-home placement can occur. Residential placement could be in a public or private facility, and Figure 5.8
There are an estimated 18,000 juvenile probation professionals impacting the lives of juveniles in the United States. Eighty-five percent of these professionals are involved in the delivery of basic intake, investigation, and supervision services at the line officer level; the remaining 15 percent are involved in the administration of probation offices or in the management of probation staff.
