This study is based on a 10- to 25-year follow-up of 500 randomly selected cases of juveniles adjudicated delinquent in the juvenile court of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Of 243 juveniles adjudicated delinquent in juvenile court on their first referral to juvenile justice, 20% went on to adult prison after the age of 18. Of 233 juveniles not taken to juvenile court on their first referral to juvenile justice, 43% were imprisoned in adult life after the age of 18. Early referral to the juvenile court of juveniles who commit delinquent acts appears to greatly reduce the likelihood that these individuals will go on to prison in adult life.
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