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Definitions and Data Sources

 

4th Grade Students Who Scored At or Above Proficient Math Level: 2007 is the percentage of 4th grade public school students who reached either the Proficient or the Advanced level in mathematics, as measured by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which is conducted by the U.S. Department of Education.

The math assessment measures five content areas: (1) numbers and operations; (2) measurement; (3) geometry; (4) data analysis; and (5) algebra and functions. The NAEP uses three proficiency categories—Advanced, Proficient, and Basic. Fourth grade students at the Proficient level were able to consistently apply their knowledge and understanding of mathematical concepts and procedures towards solving problems in the five content areas. Fourth graders at the Advanced level could apply this knowledge and understanding consistently towards more complex problem solving in the content areas. Scores on this measure are reported for every state and the District of Columbia.

SOURCE:

  • U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2007 Mathematics Assessment available online at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/naepdata/.

4th Grade Students Who Scored At or Above Proficient Reading Level: 2007 is the percentage of 4th grade public school students who reached either the Proficient or the Advanced level in reading, as measured by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which is conducted by the U.S. Department of Education.

The reading assessment for grade 4 students measures two global purposes for reading—reading for literary experience and reading to gain information. The NAEP uses three proficiency categories—Advanced, Proficient, and Basic. Fourth grade students at the Proficient level showed an ability not only to understand what they read, but also to extend the ideas in the text by making inferences, drawing conclusions, and making connections to their own experiences. Fourth graders at the Advanced level were able to generalize about topics in the reading selection and demonstrate an awareness of how authors develop and use literary devices. Scores on this measure are reported for every state and the District of Columbia.

SOURCE:

  • U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2007 Reading Assessment available online at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/naepdata/.

8th Grade Students Who Scored At or Above Proficient Math Level: 2007 is the percentage of 8th grade public school students who reached either the Proficient or the Advanced level in mathematics, as measured by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which is conducted by the U.S. Department of Education.

The math assessment measures five content areas: (1) numbers and operations; (2) measurement; (3) geometry; (4) data analysis; and (5) algebra and functions. The NAEP uses three proficiency categories—Advanced, Proficient, and Basic. Eighth grade students at the Proficient level were able to apply mathematical concepts and procedures consistently to complex problems in the five content areas. Eighth graders at the Advanced level could go beyond the application of mathematical rules to generalize and synthesize concepts and principles in the content areas. Scores on this measure are reported for every state and the District of Columbia.

SOURCE:

  • U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2007 Mathematics Assessment available online at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/naepdata/.

8th Grade Students Who Scored At or Above Proficient Reading Level: 2007 is the percentage of 8th grade public school students who reached either the Proficient or the Advanced level in reading, as measured by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which is conducted by the U.S. Department of Education.

The reading assessment for grade 8 students measures three global purposes for reading—reading for literary experience, reading to gain information, and reading to perform a task. The NAEP uses three proficiency categories—Advanced, Proficient, and Basic. Eighth grade students at the Proficient level were able not only to understand what they read, but also to extend the ideas in the text by making inferences, drawing conclusions, making connections to their own experiences (reading or otherwise), and identifying some of the literary devices authors use. Eighth graders at the Advanced level could thoroughly and thoughtfully describe the more abstract themes and ideas of the overall text. Scores on this measure are reported for every state and the District of Columbia.

SOURCE:

  • U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2007 Reading Assessment available online at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/naepdata/.

Child Death Rate (deaths per 100,000 children ages 1–14): 2005 is the number of deaths to children between ages 1 and 14, from all causes, per 100,000 children in this age range. The data are reported by place of residence, not place of death.

SOURCES:

  • Death Statistics: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
    2005 data: Special tabulations provided by CDC, NCHS, Division of Vital Statistics, “Deaths by 10-Year Age Groups: United States and Each State,” for 2005.
    2004 data: Population Reference Bureau, analysis of data from the Multiple Causes of Death Public Use Files for 2004 CD-Rom.
    2003 data: Population Reference Bureau, analysis of data from the Multiple Causes of Death Public Use Files for 2003 CD-Rom.
    2001 and 2002 data: Special tabulations provided by CDC, NCHS, Division of Vital Statistics, “Deaths by 10-Year Age Groups: United States and Each State,” for the years 2001 and 2002.
    2000 data: CDC, NCHS, Division of Vital Statistics, “Deaths by 10-Year Age Groups: United States and Each State, 2000,” accessed online at www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/dvs/VS00100.TABLE23B_2000.pdf (January 10, 2003).

  • Population Statistics: Population Reference Bureau, analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
    2005 data: State Characteristics Population Estimates File, accessed online at http://www.census.gov/popest/states/asrh/files/SC_EST2005_6race.csv.
    2004 data: State Characteristics Population Estimates File, accessed online at http://www.census.gov/popest/states/asrh/files/sc_est2004_6race.csv
    2003 data: State Characteristics Population Estimates File, accessed online at www.census.gov/popest/states/asrh/files/SC-EST2003-race6.csv  (May 13, 2005).
    2001 and 2002 data: State Characteristics Population Estimates File, accessed online at eire.census.gov/popest/data/states/files/STCH-6R.txt (November 21, 2003).
    2000 data: Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data, Table P14.

Children in Extreme Poverty (income below 50% of poverty level): 2006 is the percentage of children under age 18 who live in families with incomes below 50 percent of the U.S. poverty threshold, as defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. The Federal poverty definition consists of a series of thresholds based on family size and composition and is updated every year to account for inflation. In calendar year 2006 a family of two adults and two children were considered as being in “extreme poverty” if their annual income fell below $10,222. Poverty status is not determined for people in military barracks, prisons and other institutional quarters, or for unrelated individuals under age 15 (such as foster children). The data are based on income received in the 12 months prior to the survey.

SOURCE:

  • Population Reference Bureau, analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 2006 American Community Survey.

Children in Low–Income Families (income below 200% of poverty level): 2006 is the percentage of children under age 18 who live in families with incomes below 200 percent of the U.S. poverty threshold, as defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. The Federal poverty definition consists of a series of thresholds based on family size and composition and is updated every year to account for inflation. In calendar year 2006, a family of two adults and two children fell in the “low income” category if their annual income fell below $40,888. Poverty status is not determined for people living in group quarters such as military barracks, prisons and other institutional quarters, or for unrelated individuals under age 15 (such as foster children). The data are based on income received in the 12 months prior to the survey.

SOURCE:

  • Population Reference Bureau, analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 2006 American Community Survey.

Children in Low–Income Families That Spend More Than 30% of Their Income on Housing: 2006 is the percentage of children under age 18 in low-income families where the family spent more than 30 percent of their monthly income on rent, mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, and/or related housing expenses. Low-income families are those with incomes below 200 percent of the U.S. poverty threshold, as defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. The Federal poverty definition consists of a series of thresholds based on family size and composition and is updated every year to account for inflation. In calendar year 2006, a family of two adults and two children fell in the “low income” category if their annual income fell below $40,888. Poverty status is not determined for people living in group quarters such as military barracks, prisons and other institutional quarters, or for unrelated individuals under age 15 (such as foster children). The data are based on income received in the 12 months prior to the survey. The 30 percent threshold for housing costs is based on research on affordable housing by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD). According to HUD, households that must allocate more than 30 percent of their income to housing expenses are less likely to have enough resources for food, clothing, medical care, or other needs. Because they must deal with relatively scarce resources to begin with, low-income households are particularly vulnerable.

SOURCE:

  • Population Reference Bureau, analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 2006 American Community Survey.

Estimated Daily Count of Detained and Committed Youth in Custody: 2006 is the number of youth charged with, or court-adjudicated for, an offense and residing in a public or private facility on February 22, 2006, resulting from contact with the justice system. Their ages can range from age 10 to the upper age of court jurisdiction for that state. Counts reflect state of offense.

The Daily Count is based on estimates and is a count of individuals in a facility on a given day. Because some data have been adjusted to account for underreporting in some jurisdictions, figures presented here will not match data reported by the FBI or state or local law enforcement agencies.

Detained youth in custody include juveniles held prior to adjudication while awaiting a hearing in juvenile court, as well as juveniles held after adjudication while awaiting disposition or after adjudication while awaiting placement elsewhere. They also include juveniles awaiting transfer to adult criminal court, or awaiting a hearing or trial in adult criminal court. Committed youth include juveniles in placement in the facility as part of a court-ordered disposition. Committed juveniles may have been adjudicated and disposed in juvenile court or convicted and sentenced in criminal court. Adjudication is the court process that determines if the juvenile committed the act with which he or she is charged. As used here the term "adjudicated" is analogous to "convicted" and indicates that the court concluded the juvenile committed the act.

Public and private placement facilities include detention centers, shelters, reception/diagnostic centers, training schools, ranch/camp or farm, halfway houses or group homes.

To preserve the privacy of the juvenile residents, state level cell counts have been rounded to the nearest multiple of three. "State of Offense" refers to where the juvenile committed the offense for which they were being held

SOURCE:

  • Adams, B., Puzzanchera, C., and Sickmund, M., 2008, Juvenile Crime Indicators: Special Analysis of the 2006 Census of Juveniles in Residential Placement, National Center for Juvenile Justice, Pittsburgh, PA. http://ojjdp.ncjrs.org/ojstatbb/cjrp/asp/methods.asp

Infant Mortality Rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) is the number of deaths occurring to infants under 1 year of age per 1,000 live births. The data are reported by place of residence, not place of death.

SOURCES:

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics.
    2005 data: “Deaths: Final Data for 2005,” National Vital Statistics Reports, Vol. 56, No. 10 (April 24, 2008), Table 32 and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics VitalStats. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/vitalstats.htm.  [March 15, 2008].
    2004 data: Population Reference Bureau, analysis of data from the Multiple Causes of Death Public Use Files for 2004 CD-Rom and “Births: Final Data for 2004,” National Vital Statistics Reports, Vol. 55, No. 1 (September 29, 2006), Table 11.
    2003 data: Population Reference Bureau, analysis of data from the Multiple Causes of Death Public Use Files for 2003 CD-Rom and “Births: Final Data for 2003,” National Vital Statistics Reports, Vol. 54, No. 2 (September 8, 2004), Table 10.
    2002 data: “Deaths: Final Data for 2002,” National Vital Statistics Reports, Vol. 53, No. 5 (October 12, 2004), Table 32.
    2001 data: “Deaths: Final Data for 2001,” National Vital Statistics Reports, Vol. 52, No. 3 (September 18, 2003), Table 33.
    2000 data: “Deaths: Final Data for 2000,” National Vital Statistics Reports, Vol. 50, No. 15 (September 16, 2002), Table 36.

Juvenile Violent Crime Arrest Rate (arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10–17): 2005 is the number of arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10 to 17 for violent offenses, including homicide, manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. In some jurisdictions, data were adjusted to account for underreporting. Thus, our figures will not match FBI or state or local law enforcement agency data. Rates reflect state of offense. Illinois and D.C. data were suppressed because the reporting coverage estimate was less than 50 percent. To preserve the privacy of the juvenile residents, state level cell counts have been rounded to the nearest multiple of three. "State of Offense" refers to where the juvenile committed the offense for which they were being held. Violent offenses include: murder/manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault.

SOURCE:

Median Income of Families With Children: 2006 is the median annual income for families with related children under age 18 living in the household. “Related children” include the householder’s (head of the household) children by birth, marriage, or adoption; as well as other persons under age 18 (such as nieces, nephews, or grandchildren) who are related to the householder and living in the household. The median income is the dollar amount that divides the income distribution into two equal groups—half with income above the median, half with income below it. The data are based on income received in the 12 months prior to the survey. All figures are rounded to the nearest $100.

SOURCE:

  • Population Reference Bureau, analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 2006 American Community Survey.

Number of Children: 2006 are estimates of the total resident population under age 18 as of July 1, 2006. We present data for two specific population groups: (1) Total children under age 18 and (2) Children ages 10 to 17.

SOURCE:

Number of Children Without Health Insurance: 2005 is the number of children under age 18 who were not covered by health insurance at any point during the year. The figures shown here are 3-year averages of data from 2004 through 2006. We label these as 2005 estimates because 2005 is the midpoint of the 3-year period.
SOURCE:

  • The Urban Studies Institute at the University of Louisville, analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (March supplement), 2005 through 2007.

Overall Rank for each state was obtained in the following manner. First, we converted the 2006 (or 2005, depending on the indicator) numerical values for each of the 10 key indicators into standard scores. We then summed those standard scores to create a total standard score for each of the 50 states. Finally, we ranked the states on the basis of their total standard score in sequential order from highest/best (1) to lowest/worst (50). Standard scores were derived by subtracting the mean score from the observed score and dividing the amount by the standard deviation for that distribution of scores. (Because we did not rank the District of Columbia, we did not include data for the District in our calculations of standard scores. See page 34 of the Data Book for an explanation of why we did not rank the District.) All measures were given the same weight in calculating the total standard score. In other words, no attempt was made to judge the relative importance of each indicator.

Percent Change Over Time Analysis was computed by comparing the 2006 (or 2005, depending on the indicator) data for each of the 10 key indicators with the data for the base year (2000). To calculate percent change, we subtracted the value for 2000 from the value for 2005/2006, then divided that quantity by the value for 2000. The results are multiplied by 100 for readability. The percent change was calculated on rounded data, and the “percent change” figure has been rounded to the nearest whole number.

Percent Low–Birthweight Babies: 2005 is the percentage of live births weighing less than 2,500 grams (5.5 pounds). The data are reported by place of mother's residence, not place of birth. Each year there are a small number of births in which the weight of the newborn is not recorded, and births of unknown weight are not included in these calculations.

SOURCES:

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics.
    2005 data: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, VitalStats. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/vitalstats.htm.  [March 15, 2008].
    2004 data: “Births: Final Data for 2004,” National Vital Statistics Reports, Vol. 55, No. 1 (September 8, 2004), Table 35.
    2003 data: “Births: Final Data for 2003,” National Vital Statistics Reports, Vol. 54, No. 2 (September 8, 2004), Table 46.
    2002 data: “Births: Final Data for 2002,” National Vital Statistics Reports, Vol. 52, No. 10 (December 17, 2003), Table 46.
    2001 data: “Births: Final Data for 2001,” National Vital Statistics Reports, Vol. 51, No. 2, (December 18, 2002), Table 46.
    2000 data: “Births: Final Data for 2000,” National Vital Statistics Reports, Vol. 50, No. 5, (February 12, 2002), Table 46.

Percent of Children in Immigrant Families: 2006 is the percent of children who are foreign-born or who live with at least one foreign-born parent. The foreign-born status of children not living with either parent is based solely on the status of the child and no other household member. Children living in subfamilies are linked to their parent(s) and not the householder.

SOURCE:

  • Population Reference Bureau, analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 2006 American Community Survey.

Percent of Children in Poverty is the share of children under age 18 who live in families with incomes below the U.S. poverty threshold, as defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. The Federal poverty definition consists of a series of income thresholds based on family size and composition and is updated every year to account for inflation. In 2006, the poverty threshold for a family of two adults and two children was $20,444. Poverty status is not determined for people in group quarters such as military barracks, prisons and other institutional quarters, or for unrelated individuals under age 15 (such as foster children). The data are based on income received in the 12 months prior to the survey.

SOURCES:

  • Population Reference Bureau, analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
    2006 data: 2006 American Community Survey Summary Tables, Table B17001.
    2005 data: 2005 American Community Survey Summary Tables, Table B17001.
    2004 data: 2004 American Community Survey Summary Tables, Table B17001.
    2003 data: 2003 American Community Survey Summary Tables, Table P114.
    2002 data: 2002 American Community Survey Summary Tables, Table P114.
    2001 data: 2001 Supplementary Survey Summary Tables, Table P114.
    2000 data: Census 2000 Supplementary Survey Summary Tables, Table P114.

Percent of Children in Single–Parent Families is the percentage of children under age 18 who live with their own single parent either in a family or subfamily. In this definition, single-parent families may include cohabiting couples and do not include children living with stepparents. Children who live in group quarters (for example, institutions, dormitories, or group homes) are not included in this calculation.

SOURCES:

  • Population Reference Bureau, analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
    2006 data: 2006 American Community Survey Summary Tables, Table B23008
    2005 data: 2005 American Community Survey Summary Tables, Table B23008
    2004 data: 2004 American Community Survey Summary Tables, Table B23008.
    2003 data: 2003 American Community Survey Summary Tables, Table P063.
    2002 data: 2002 American Community Survey Summary Tables, Table P063.
    2001 data: 2001 Supplementary Survey Summary Tables, Table P063.
    2000 data: Census 2000 Supplementary Survey Summary Tables, Table P063.

Percent of Children Living in Families Where No Parent Has Full–Time, Year–Round Employment is the share of all children under age 18 living in families where no parent has regular, full-time employment. This measure is very similar to the measure called “Secure Parental Employment,” used by the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics in its publication, America’s Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being. For children living in single-parent families, this means the resident parent did not work at least 35 hours per week, at least 50 weeks in the 12 months prior to the survey. For children living in married-couple families, this means neither parent worked at least 35 hours per week, at least 50 weeks in the 12 months prior to the survey. Children living with neither parent also were listed as not having secure parental employment because those children are likely to be economically vulnerable.

SOURCE:

  • Population Reference Bureau, special tabulations of data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000 Supplementary Survey; 2001 Supplementary Survey; and American Community Surveys for 2002 through 2006.

Percent of Children With Special Health Care Needs: 2005–2006 is defined by the Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) as the percentage of children under age 18 who are at increased risk for a chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional condition and who also require health and related services of a type or amount beyond that required by children generally. The National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (NS-CSHCN) provides a source of both National- and State-level data on the size and characteristics of the population of CSHCN. The survey, sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services' MCHB and carried out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics, provides detailed information on the prevalence of CSHCN in the Nation and in each State, the demographic characteristics of these children, the types of health and support services they and their families need, and their access to and satisfaction with the care they receive.

SOURCE:

  • Child Trends analysis of data from the Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau.

Percent of Children Without Health Insurance: 2005 is the percentage of children under age 18 who were not covered by health insurance at any point during the year. Health insurance includes private-sector insurance generally provided through work, as well as insurance provided through the public sector, such as Medicare and Medicaid, or a variety of new State Child Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP) are counted as having health insurance. The figures shown here are 3-year averages of data from 2004 through 2006. We label these as 2005 estimates because 2005 is the midpoint of the 3-year period. For any given year, data on health insurance status are collected in March of the following year.

SOURCE:

  • The Urban Studies Institute at the University of Louisville, analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (March supplement), 2005 through 2007.

Percent of Teens Not Attending School and Not Working (ages 16–19) is the percentage of teenagers between ages 16 and 19 who are not enrolled in school (full- or part-time) and not employed (full- or part-time). This measure is sometimes referred to as “Idle Teens” or “Disconnected Youth.”

The inclusion of group quarters population in the 2006 American Community Survey could have a noticeable impact on the universe population for this age group. Therefore, the 2006 estimates might not be fully comparable to previous years.

SOURCES:

  • Population Reference Bureau, analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
    2006 data: 2006 American Community Survey Summary Tables, Table B14005.
    2005 data: 2005 American Community Survey Summary Tables, Table B14005.
    2004 data: 2004 American Community Survey Summary Tables, Table B14005.
    2003 data: 2003 American Community Survey Summary Tables, Table PCT36.
    2002 data: 2002 American Community Survey Summary Tables, Table PCT36.
    2001 data: 2001 Supplementary Survey Summary Tables, Table PCT36.
    2000 data: Census 2000 Supplementary Survey Summary Tables, Table PCT36.

Percent of Teens Who Are High School Dropouts (ages 16–19) is the percentage of teenagers between ages 16 and 19 who are not enrolled in school and are not high school graduates. Consistent with Census Bureau policy, persons who have a General Equivalency Diploma or equivalent are included as high school graduates in this measure. The measure used here is defined as a “status dropout” rate by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) as shown in their publication, Dropout Rates in the United States: 2001 (p. 4). We use data on status dropout measure in the KIDS COUNT Data Book because it is available and comparable for all states. NCES collects data on event dropouts, but only 45 states currently submit event dropout data to the NCES that meets quality and comparability levels needed to justify publishing estimates (see NCES, Public High School Dropouts and Completers From the Common Core of Data: School Year 2000-02, p. 2).

For the measure presented here, we focus on teens ages 16 to 19 rather than young adults ages 18 to 24 (which is the focus of Dropout Rates in the United States: 2001), because a large share of 18- to 24-year-olds migrate across state lines each year. The high interstate migration rates of 18- to 24-year-olds confound the connection between state policies and programs and state dropout rates.

The inclusion of group quarters population in the 2006 American Community Survey could have a noticeable impact on the universe population for this age group. Therefore, the 2006 estimates might not be fully comparable to previous years.

SOURCES:

  • Population Reference Bureau, analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
    2006 data: 2006 American Community Survey Summary Tables, Table B14005.
    2005 data: 2005 American Community Survey Summary Tables, Table B14005.
    2004 data: 2004 American Community Survey Summary Tables, Table B14005.
    2003 data: 2003 American Community Survey Summary Tables, Table PCT36.
    2002 data: 2002 American Community Survey Summary Tables, Table PCT36.
    2001 data: 2001 Supplementary Survey Summary Tables, Table PCT36.
    2000 data: Census 2000 Supplementary Survey Summary Tables, Table PCT36.

Percent of Youth in Custody for Non–Violent Offenses: 2006 is the percentage of detained or committed youth arrested for non-violent offenses, which are all offenses other than criminal homicide, violent sexual assault, robbery, or aggravated assault. Detained or committed youth are those charged with, or court-adjudicated for, an offense and residing in a public or private facility on February 22, 2006. Their ages can range from age 10 to the upper age of court jurisdiction for that state. Rates reflect state of offense.

The Daily Count is based on estimates and is a count of individuals in a facility on a given day. Because some data have been adjusted to account for underreporting in some jurisdictions, figures presented here will not match data reported by the FBI or state or local law enforcement agencies.

Detained youth in custody include juveniles held prior to adjudication while awaiting a hearing in juvenile court, as well as juveniles held after adjudication while awaiting disposition or after adjudication while awaiting placement elsewhere. They also include juveniles awaiting transfer to adult criminal court, or awaiting a hearing or trial in adult criminal court. Committed youth include juveniles in placement in the facility as part of a court-ordered disposition. Committed juveniles may have been adjudicated and disposed in juvenile court or convicted and sentenced in criminal court. Adjudication is the court process that determines if the juvenile committed the act with which he or she is charged. As used here the term "adjudicated" is analogous to "convicted" and indicates that the court concluded the juvenile committed the act.

Public and private placement facilities include detention centers, shelters, reception/diagnostic centers, training schools, ranch/camp or farm, halfway houses or group homes.

To preserve the privacy of the juvenile residents, state level cell counts have been rounded to the nearest multiple of three. "State of Offense" refers to where the juvenile committed the offense for which they were being held. Non-Violent offenses include: offenses against property such as arson, auto theft, burglary, shoplifting, purse snatching without force, vandalism, trespassing, selling stolen property, fraud, etc., drug offenses involving actual or attempted making, selling, or distributing of a controlled or illegal drug or substance, drug possession or use, possession of drug paraphernalia, visiting a place where drugs are found, etc. and other non-violent offenses include, driving or operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or other drug or controlled substance, actual or attempted illegal sale, distribution, manufacture, alteration, transportation, possession, or use of a deadly or dangerous weapon or accessory and public order offenses.

SOURCE:

  • Adams, B., Puzzanchera, C., and Sickmund, M. 2008. Juvenile Crime Indicators: Special analysis of the 2006 Census of Juveniles in Residential Placement. Pittsburgh, PA: National Center for Juvenile Justice. http://ojjdp.ncjrs.org/ojstatbb/cjrp/asp/methods.asp

Race and Hispanic Origin of Youth are estimates of the total resident population ages 10 to 17 as of July 1, 2006, including Armed Forces personnel stationed in the area. The categories provided are mutually exclusive for the largest racial and ethnic groups, as currently measured by the U.S. Census Bureau. In order to provide mutually exclusive groupings, racial categories used here (“White,” “Black/African American,” “American Indian/Alaskan Native,” “Asian and Pacific Islander,” and “More than one race”) do not include anyone who indicated that they were Hispanic or Latino. Those persons who did consider themselves Hispanic or Latino were included in the “Hispanic/Latino” category. For purposes of this report, Asians, Native Hawaiians, and Other Pacific Islanders were grouped into one category because of small numbers in some states.
SOURCE:

Rate of Detained and Committed Youth in Custody (per 100,000 youth ages 10–15): 2006 is the number of detained and committed youth ages 10 to 15 per 100,000 youth in this age group. Detained or committed youth are those who have been charged with, or court-adjudicated for, an offense and were in residential placement on February 22, 2006. Residential placement includes public and private placement facilities. Rates reflect state of offense.

The Daily Count is based on estimates and is a count of individuals in a facility on a given day. Because some data have been adjusted to account for underreporting in some jurisdictions, figures presented here will not match data reported by the FBI or state or local law enforcement agencies.

Detained youth in custody include juveniles held prior to adjudication while awaiting a hearing in juvenile court, as well as juveniles held after adjudication while awaiting disposition or after adjudication while awaiting placement elsewhere. They also include juveniles awaiting transfer to adult criminal court, or awaiting a hearing or trial in adult criminal court. Committed youth include juveniles in placement in the facility as part of a court-ordered disposition. Committed juveniles may have been adjudicated and disposed in juvenile court or convicted and sentenced in criminal court. Adjudication is the court process that determines if the juvenile committed the act with which he or she is charged. As used here the term "adjudicated" is analogous to "convicted" and indicates that the court concluded the juvenile committed the act.

Public and private placement facilities include detention centers, shelters, reception/diagnostic centers, training schools, ranch/camp or farm, halfway houses or group homes.

To preserve the privacy of the juvenile residents, state level cell counts have been rounded to the nearest multiple of three. "State of Offense" refers to where the juvenile committed the offense for which they were being held.

SOURCE:

  • Adams, B., Puzzanchera, C., and Sickmund, M. 2008. Juvenile Crime Indicators: Special analysis of the 2006 Census of Juveniles in Residential Placement. Pittsburgh, PA: National Center for Juvenile Justice. http://ojjdp.ncjrs.org/ojstatbb/cjrp/asp/methods.asp

Ratio of Rates of Youth of Color to White Youth in Custody: 2006 is the ratio of the following two rates: (1) the rate of detained and committed youth of color per 100,000 youth and (2) the rate of detained and committed non-Hispanic white youth per 100,000 youth. The ratio denotes the proportion of youth of color offenders relative to non-Hispanic white youth offenders. They can be as young as age 10 and as old as the upper age of court jurisdiction for that state. The upper age of jurisdiction is 15 in 3 States (Connecticut, New York, and North Carolina), and 16 in 10 States (Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin). In the remaining 37 States and the District of Columbia, the upper age of jurisdiction is 17.

It should be noted that there are several exceptions to this age criterion. In some States the district attorneys have the discretion of filing certain cases in either the juvenile court or the criminal court. Detained or committed youth are those who have been charged with, or court-adjudicated for, an offense and were in residential placement on February 22, 2006. Residential placement includes public and private placement facilities. Youth of color include; black, Hispanic, American Indian, Asian, Pacific Islander, and other race. Rates reflect the state of offense.

Detained youth in custody include juveniles held prior to adjudication while awaiting a hearing in juvenile court, as well as juveniles held after adjudication while awaiting disposition or after adjudication while awaiting placement elsewhere. They also include juveniles awaiting transfer to adult criminal court, or awaiting a hearing or trial in adult criminal court. Committed youth include juveniles in placement in the facility as part of a court-ordered disposition. Committed juveniles may have been adjudicated and disposed in juvenile court or convicted and sentenced in criminal court. Adjudication is the court process that determines if the juvenile committed the act with which he or she is charged. As used here the term "adjudicated" is analogous to "convicted" and indicates that the court concluded the juvenile committed the act.

Public and private placement facilities include detention centers, shelters, reception/diagnostic centers, training schools, ranch/camp or farm, halfway houses or group homes.

To preserve the privacy of the juvenile residents, state level cell counts have been rounded to the nearest multiple of three. "State of Offense" refers to where the juvenile committed the offense for which they were being held.

SOURCE:

  • Adams, B., Puzzanchera, C., and Sickmund, M. 2008. Juvenile Crime Indicators: Special analysis of the 2006 Census of Juveniles in Residential Placement. Pittsburgh, PA: National Center for Juvenile Justice. http://ojjdp.ncjrs.org/ojstatbb/cjrp/asp/methods.asp

Teen Birth Rate (births per 1,000 females ages 15–19) is the number of births to teenagers between ages 15 and 19 per 1,000 females in this age group. Data reflect the mother’s place of residence, rather than place of birth. This measure of teenage childbearing focuses on the fertility of all females ages 15 to 19, regardless of marital status. We focus on births to 15- to 19-year-olds rather than the narrower age range of 15- to 17-year-olds used in previous KIDS COUNT Data Books because recent research strongly suggest that births to young women ages 18 and 19 are as problematic as are births to girls ages 15 to 17. For example, the poverty rate for children born to 18- and 19-year-olds is virtually the same as the poverty rate for children born to females under age 18. We omitted births to girls under age 15, since less than 5 percent of teen births occurred to girls in that age group. The inclusion of girls under age 15 in the denominator would dramatically lower the rate, providing an unrealistic assessment of the true risk being faced by 15- to 19-year-old females.

SOURCES:

  • Birth Statistics: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics.
    2005 data: Population Reference Bureau, analysis of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. VitalStats. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/vitalstats.htm.  [March 15, 2008].
    2004 data: Population Reference Bureau, analysis of data from the Natality Data Set CD Series 21, number 16H (ASCII version).
    2003 data: Population Reference Bureau, analysis of data from the Natality Data Set CD Series 21, number 16H (ASCII version).
    2002 data: Child Trends, Inc., Facts at a Glance (Washington, DC: 2005): Table 1.
    2001 data: Child Trends, Inc., Facts at a Glance (Washington, DC: 2003): Table 1.
    2000 data: Child Trends, Inc., Facts at a Glance (Washington, DC: 2002): Table 1.

  • Population Statistics: Population Reference Bureau, analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
    2005 data: State Characteristics Population Estimates File, accessed online at http://www.census.gov/popest/archives/2000s/vintage_2005/
    2004 data: State Characteristics Population Estimates File, accessed online at http://www.census.gov/popest/states/asrh/files/sc_est2004_6race.csv
    2003 data: State Characteristics Population Estimates File, accessed online at
    www.census.gov/popest/states/asrh/files/SC-EST2003-race6.csv (May 13, 2005).
    2001 and 2002 data: State Characteristics Population Estimates File, accessed online at eire.census.gov/popest/data/states/files/STCH-6R.txt (November 21, 2003).
    2000 data: Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data, Table P14.

Teen Death Rate (deaths per 100,000 teens ages 15–19) is the number of deaths from all causes to teens between ages 15 and 19, per 100,000 teens in this age group. The data are reported by place of residence, not the place where the death occurred.

SOURCES:

  • Death Statistics: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
    2005 data: Special tabulations provided by CDC, NCHS, Division of Vital Statistics, “Deaths by 10-Year Age Groups: United States and Each State,” for the 2005.
    2004 data: Population Reference Bureau, analysis of data from the Multiple Causes of Death Public Use Files for 2004 CD-Rom.
    2003 data: Population Reference Bureau, analysis of data from the Multiple Causes of Death Public Use Files for 2003 CD-Rom.
    2002 data: Special tabulations from CDC, NCHS, Division of Vital Statistics, “Worktable III. Deaths From 358 Selected Causes, by 5-Year Age Groups, Race, and Sex: United States, 2002.”
    2001 data: CDC, NCHS, Division of Vital Statistics, Work Table III. Deaths From 358 Selected Causes, by 5-Year Age Groups, Race, and Sex: U.S. and Each State, 2001,” accessed online at www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/statab/mortfinal2001_workIIIpt1v.pdf (January 6, 2005).
    2000 data: CDC, NCHS, Division of Vital Statistics, Work Table III. Deaths From 358 Selected Causes, by 5-Year Age Groups, Race, and Sex: U.S. and Each State, 2000,” accessed online at www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/statab/mortfinal2000_workIII_PT1.pdf (January 6, 2005).

  • Population Statistics: Population Reference Bureau, analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
    2005 data: State Characteristics Population Estimates File, accessed online at http://www.census.gov/popest/states/asrh/files/SC_EST2005_6race.csv.
    2004 data: State Characteristics Population Estimates File, accessed online at http://www.census.gov/popest/states/asrh/files/sc_est2004_6race.csv
    2003 data: State Characteristics Population Estimates File, accessed online at www.census.gov/popest/states/asrh/files/SC-EST2003-race6.csv (May 13, 2005).
    2001 and 2002 data: State Characteristics Population Estimates File, accessed online at eire.census.gov/popest/data/states/files/STCH-6R.txt (November 21, 2003).
    2000 data: Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data, Table P14.