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Show Juvenile Court Cases Show Increase In Fifth District, Judge Reports Information recently re-leuae-u uy tiie Administrative Ofiice ol the Utah State Juv- nile Court shows a substantial substan-tial incrase in juvenile le-linquency le-linquency cases processed through Juvnile Court in the Filth District which comprises com-prises the counties of Car-Don, Car-Don, Emery, Grand, San Juan, Duchesne, Uintah and Daggett. k Delinquency cases went from 824 in 1969 to 1,023 in 1970. This is a 24.1 per cent increase in this type of case, 'this alarming increase m this area compares with only an 8'2 per cent increase jd delinquency statewide for the same period. Individual counties coun-ties varied considerably with San Juan County being trie only on that recorded a decrease de-crease 20.3 per cent) lor inis period. Increases in delinquency delin-quency cases referred to the courts in other counties of the district ranged all the way from the 13.6 per cent increase in Grand County up to a 110 per cent increase in Duchesne County, with the other counties showing increases in-creases as follow: Carbon, 27.2; Emery, 58.8; Daggett, 33; and Uintah, 23. Cases of all types including includ-ing delinquency jumped from 1,326 in 1969 to 1,679 in 1970 for a 21.1 per cent increase. For the first six months of 1971 the up-swing in delinquency delin-quency cases has been even, more pronounced. Six hundred hun-dred and twenty-seven such cases have been referred during dur-ing this period of time in 191 compared to 491 for the same period a year ago. This marks an increase ot some 27.6 per cent for this six-luonth six-luonth period. Some 25,633 cases were referred re-ferred to the juvenile courts throughout the entire state in 1970 of which 20,485 involved juvenile delinquency. The delinquency de-linquency rate (number referred re-ferred per thousand child population) climbed from 33.5 in 1969 to 41.4 in 1970. This compares with a rate of 20.6 in I960.. Notwithstanding the sub-stantial sub-stantial increase in delinquency delin-quency cases in eastern Utah this area of the state continued contin-ued to record the lowest rate of recidivism. In 1970 only 31 per cent of the youth referred refer-red in this area had any previous juvenile court record. re-cord. This compares with 45 per cent statewide and 51 per cent jor the Salt Lake County area. In 1970, 51 per cent of all delinquency cases in this district involved non-criminal behavior and acts illegal for children only, such as curfew, cur-few, possession of tobacco, truancy and out of control. Principal cases that came before the Juvenile Court in this district in 1970 were as follows: Assault and Battery, 36; auto theft and depriving auto owner, 48; shoplifting, 14 other theft, 117; burglary, 57; vandalism, 77; illegal use or possession of alcohol, 239; illegal use or possession of drugs, 24; runaway, 258; out of control, 39; truancy, 41: curfew, 27; neglect, 70; adult ad-ult contributing, 16; traffic offenses, 542. The law permits the probation proba-tion department to handle minor first offense cases without wi-thout formal court "action when the probation officer is satisfied that appropriate corrective cor-rective action has been taken by the parents or the matter does not otherwise justify formal court proceedings. Over 50 per cent of the delinquency de-linquency cases referred in lbvfj . w'ere handled in this manner. Most of these were settled only after evidence was submitted to the court that restitution has been made for damaged property or that other community social soc-ial service were working with the youth to attempt to prevent further delinquency. Of the cases that were formally form-ally presented to the Court upon petition 23 per cent placed on probation or suspended sus-pended commitment to the Industrial School. 3V2 per cent were committed to the State Industrial School of other institution for juvenile delinquents. In 4 per cent of the cases the custody of the juvenile involved was charged charg-ed by placing him in a foster home or a group home for delinquent children. In 35 percent of the cases a fine or order of restitution for damages or injury or both was assessed by the Court. In 13 per cent of the cases the juveniles involved are ordered order-ed to work for a public agency agen-cy in lieu of paying a fine and the balance or 16 per cent were ' either dismissed because of insufficient evidence evi-dence or handled by courr admonishment or suspended sentence. The recent upsurge in delinquency del-inquency cases in eastern Utah can partially be explained ex-plained by changes in population. popu-lation. From I960 to 1969 there had peen a fairly constant con-stant decrease in child population pop-ulation in this area of the state. In 1969, however, this situation changed and there was some increase for the years 1969 and 1970. Notwithstanding Notwith-standing the decline in child popluation during most of this decade there had been a slight increase in delinquency delinqu-ency cases indicating an increase in-crease in delinquency rate for juvenile court age youth. This increase in delinquency rate has been typical of the state and nalon. For example lor Utah in 1960 there wer? 20.6 referrals to juvenle court for each 1,000 child population. popula-tion. In 1970 this rate had in. creased to 41.4 per 1,000, , |