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2014 Survey of Juveniles Charged in Adult Criminal Court (SJCACC)

Nonsubstantive Change Revised Attachments

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Attachment 1: OMB Clearance for the SJCACC Data Collection

Attachment 2: SJCACC Hardcopy Survey Guide

Attachment 3: SJCACC Electronic Data Extraction Guide

Attachment 4: Westat/NCJJ SJCACC participant letter

Attachment 1: OMB Clearance for SJCACC data collection

NOTICE OF OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET ACTION
Date

11/04/2014

Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
FOR CERTIFYING OFFICIAL:

Joseph Klimavicz

FOR CLEARANCE OFFICER:

Lynn Murray

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, OMB has taken action on your request received
08/07/2014
ACTION REQUESTED:

New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)

TYPE OF REVIEW REQUESTED:

Regular

ICR REFERENCE NUMBER:

201408-1121-002

AGENCY ICR TRACKING NUMBER:
TITLE:

BJS

2014 Survey of Juveniles Charged in Adult Criminal Court (SJCACC)

LIST OF INFORMATION COLLECTIONS: See next page
OMB ACTION: Approved with change
OMB CONTROL NUMBER:

1121-0349

The agency is required to display the OMB Control Number and inform respondents of its legal significance in
accordance with 5 CFR 1320.5(b).
EXPIRATION DATE: 11/30/2017

BURDEN:

DISCONTINUE DATE:

RESPONSES

HOURS

COSTS

2,571

Change due to Agency Discretion

2,571

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TERMS OF CLEARANCE:
OMB Authorizing Official:

Dominic J. Mancini
Acting Deputy Administrator,
Office Of Information And Regulatory Affairs

List of ICs
IC Title
2014 Survey of Juveniles
Charged in Adult Criminal
Court

Form No.
N/A

Form Name
Survey of Juveniles Charged
in Adult Criminal Court

CFR Citation

Attachment 2: SJCACC Hardcopy Survey Guide

Survey of Juveniles Charged as Adults in
Criminal Courts (SJCACC): 2013
United States Department of Justice
Bureau of Justice Statistics
Hardcopy Survey Guide

June 2014
Prepared by:
Westat / National Center for Juvenile Justice
1

Table of Contents
Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................................ 2
What is the Study about? ........................................................................................................................ 3
Will the data be secure and kept confidential? ........................................................................................ 3
Which cases should be included? ........................................................................................................... 3
Unit of Count ........................................................................................................................................... 4
Relevant Data Elements .......................................................................................................................... 4
How do I contact you? ............................................................................................................................. 4
Appendix B: Preferred offense coding categories ....................................................................................... 7
Appendix C: Data Elements Layout .......................................................................................................... 10

Survey of Juveniles Charged as Adult in Criminal Courts: 2013
(SJCACC)
Hardcopy Survey Guide
What is the Study about?
The U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) has initiated a data collection to
examine young offenders processed in criminal courts. The SJCACC sample will be drawn from all
felony and misdemeanor cases disposed in criminal courts in 2013 involving defendants younger than age
18 at the time of the crime. This information is critical to understanding how many youth are charged in
criminal court, the characteristics of these youth, the pathways that lead them to criminal court, and the
final disposition of their cases.
BJS has retained Westat, a nationally known and highly regarded survey research firm, and the National
Center for Juvenile Justice (NCJJ) a national expert on juvenile offenders and on state policies for
transferring juveniles to adult criminal courts, to collect data on the processing of youth as adults in
criminal court. Westat and the NCJJ have developed a project design that supports multiple modes of
data collection. The purpose of this guide is to explain documenting cases using a hardcopy survey when
a statewide electronic data system is not available with this information.

Will the data be secure and kept confidential?
We take confidentiality and human subject protection very seriously. Project findings, reports, and data
files prepared for dissemination will not contain information that can reasonably be expected to be
identifiable to a private person. The final data file will be prepared specifically in accordance with the
guidelines provided by National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD), operated by the InterUniversity Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR), located at the University of Michigan’s
Institute for Social Research. The data will be archived and not publicly available.
Westat staff will store data on the secure server computer, unconnected to any computer outside the office
of NCJJ. Access to the data will be limited to those employees working on the collection. Consistent with
its mission, BJS is authorized to collect these data and will use them solely for research and statistical
purposes only as described in Title 42, U.S.C. §3735 and §3789g (enclosed).
We understand that there may be policies in place requiring you to limit the amount or type of data you
can release. While each of the identified data elements are critical to understand the processing of youth
charged as adults, we are willing to discuss and adhere to any data transfer agreement you may have.
Which cases should be included?
At the start of data collection your jurisdiction provided a list of all eligible cases (i.e., those involving
youth under age 18 during 2013) from which Westat statisticians drew a sample. The selected cases are
listed in your cover letter included with the survey. If any of the selected case is not a felony or
misdemeanor offense, such as a minor violation of the law or civil infraction punishable only by a fine
(e.g., a summary traffic infractions, wild life/fish and game), do not include the case in your survey. If a
case includes non-criminal offenses in addition to misdemeanor or felony offenses, it is eligible, but you
should not report the non-criminal offense in the survey.
3

Unit of Count
Report information for each case at the charge-level, where more than one charge may be filed against a
single defendant. A "charge" (or “count”) represents a formal allegation that a person committed a
specific crime. A youth charged with four burglaries submitted in one allegation would contribute four
charges in the survey. A youth arrested for three burglaries and arrested again the following week on
another burglary charge would also contribute four separate charges.
Charges (felony and misdemeanor) of interest are for cases disposed in 2013 against defendants who were
younger than the age of 18 at the time of the crime, regardless of the age of juvenile court jurisdiction
(which varies by state).
Relevant Data Elements
Some of the data elements of interest include:
 unique offender identification number capable of tracking the offender through case processing
and to subsequent involvement in the criminal justice system;
 offense type (e.g., felony or misdemeanor)
 offender demographics (e.g., gender, date of birth, race/ethnicity);
 legal mechanism employed to process the matter in criminal court.
 arrest charge(s);
 arraignment charge(s);
 adjudication information;
 sentencing; and
 type of facility where defendant is being held.
Please refer to Appendix C for a detailed listing of data elements.
How do I contact you?
For questions about completing your SJCACC Survey
SJCACC Help Desk
Toll Free: XXX-XXX-XXXX
Email: [email protected]
Fax: XXX-XXX-XXXX
Mail: 1600 Research Boulevard, Rockville, MD 20850
For general questions about the SJCACC Study
Paula S. Thompson, PMP
SJCACC, Project Director
Westat
1600 Research Boulevard
Rockville, MD 20850
301-517-4030

Melissa Sickmund, Ph.D.
SJCACC, Project Director
National Center for Juvenile Justice (NCJJ)
3700 South Water Street, Suite 200
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
412–246–0824

Appendix A: Key concepts and definitions
[By order of appearance]
Non-criminal offense: Not a felony or misdemeanor offense. A minor violation of the law or civil
infraction punishable only by a fine (e.g., summary traffic infractions, wild life/fish and game).
Case ID#: Unique ID assigned to individual cases by the Court.
Defendant ID#: Unique ID assigned to the defendant by the Court.
Fingerprint ID#: An alternative defendant ID—a unique identification related to the defendant’s
fingerprint.
Age: Date of birth and date of offense will be used to calculate the defendant's age at the time of the
offense. However, where these date fields are unavailable the following age fields will be accepted: age at
the time of offense, age at arrest, age at arraignment, and age at conviction.
Race/Ethnicity: The survey will attempt to minimally capture those groups that the federal Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) specifies as necessary for data collection, e.g., American Indian or
Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and White.
There are two categories for data on ethnicity: "Hispanic or Latino," and "Not Hispanic or Latino."
Charge level/grade: The classification of a felony or misdemeanor generally based on severity. Class (A,
B, C, D), degree (first-degree, second degree), and severity (simple, aggravated) are all examples of
charge levels or grades.
Technical violation: A violation by failure to comply with the conditions of conditional release other
than failure by commission of a new offense. Failure to appear and probation violation are examples of
technical violations.
Arraignment: The hearing before a judge or magistrate where the identity of the defendant is established,
the defendant is informed of their rights and any charges against them and a plea is entered. The first time,
subsequent to the arrest, that formal charge(s) are entered with a court. This could be called the case
filing, initial appearance, or arraignment hearing.
Adjudication: The point in a case where a judge or magistrate makes an ultimate decision on the merits
of the case. This may be a verdict of guilty or innocent or a mistrial. Adjudication can also be known as a
conviction.
Disposition: An action by a criminal or juvenile justice agency that signifies a decision has been made on
a case or a part of a case and either the process is complete and jurisdiction is transferred or a new aspect
of the case will need to be decided upon.
Prison: A state or federal confinement facility having custodial authority over adults sentenced to
confinement.

Jail: A confinement facility administered by an agency of local government intended for adults but
sometimes also containing juveniles and persons’ detained pending adjudication and persons committed
after adjudication, usually those committed on sentences of a year or less.
Youthful offender facility: A facility in adult jails that holds juveniles whose jurisdiction in juvenile
court extends beyond the age of 18.
Juvenile facility: A separate facility from a jail or prison intended for the holding of juvenile offenders.
Blended sentencing: The juvenile court has the authority to impose adult criminal sanctions on certain
juvenile offenders. The majority of such laws authorize the juvenile court to combine a juvenile
disposition with a criminal sentence that is suspended. If the youth successfully completes the juvenile
disposition, the criminal sanction is not imposed. If, however, the youth does not cooperate or fails in the
juvenile sanctioning system, the adult criminal sanction is imposed. Juvenile court blended sentencing
expands the jurisdiction of the juvenile court such that juvenile offenders may face the same penalties as
adult offenders.
Waiver: A ruling by a judge after a hearing transferring jurisdiction over a youth from juvenile court to
criminal court.
Direct file (or concurrent jurisdiction): Prosecutors have the option to file the case directly in criminal
court as well as juvenile court if it meets the criteria for transfer. No hearing is held and there may be no
formal standard for deciding in which court to file. This is left to the discretion of the prosecutor.
Statutory exclusion: Statutes or laws that state if a juvenile commits a certain list of enumerated crimes;
they will be treated and tried as an adult instead of a juvenile. These juveniles are excluded by statute
from the jurisdiction of the juvenile court.
Once an Adult/Always an Adult: The case met state statutory criteria (age, offense, criminal history)
that require new cases involving a juvenile previously handled or convicted in criminal court to also be
handled in criminal court.
Lower “upper age” of juvenile court jurisdiction: An age below 18 where juvenile court jurisdiction
ends and criminal jurisdiction begins. Most states set the upper age of juvenile court jurisdiction at 17.
This is the highest age at which a juvenile will still be handled as a juvenile. When a juvenile turns 18,
they enter the jurisdiction of the criminal court; 11* states have ended their juvenile court jurisdiction
below the age of 18.
*Applies only to Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin.

Appendix B: Preferred offense coding categories
1. Murder/nonnegligent manslaughter - The willful (nonnegligent) killing of one human being by
another. Deaths caused by negligence, attempts to kill, suicides, accidental deaths, and justifiable
homicides are excluded. The term is used in the same sense as in the UCR Crime Index. Negligent
homicide should be included under other violent offenses/other offenses against persons.
2. Violent sexual assault - Sexual acts or attempted sexual acts with a female or male against their will
by force or threat of force. Includes rape and violent sex acts other than forcible rape (e.g., incest,
sodomy). The term is broader than the UCR Crime Index and includes gender-neutral rape or sexual
assault statutes that prohibit forced sexual acts against either sex.
3. Robbery - Unlawful taking or attempted taking of property that is in the immediate possession of
another by force or the threat of force. The term is used in the same sense as in the UCR Crime Index
and includes forcible purse snatching.
4. Aggravated assault - Unlawful intentional inflicting of serious bodily injury, or unlawful threat or
attempt to inflict bodily injury or death, by means of a deadly or dangerous weapon with or without
actual infliction of any injury. The term is used in the same sense as in the UCR Crime Index. It
includes conduct included under the statutory names aggravated assault and battery, aggravated
battery, assault with intent to kill, assault with intent to commit murder or manslaughter, atrocious
assault, attempted murder, felonious assault, and assault with a deadly weapon.
5. Simple assault - Unlawful intentional inflicting, or attempted or threatened inflicting, of less than
serious bodily injury without a deadly or dangerous weapon. The term is used in the same sense in
UCR reporting. Simple assault is often not distinctly named in statutes since it consists of all assaults
not explicitly named and defined as serious.
6. Other violent offenses/other offenses against persons - This category includes kidnapping, custody
interference, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, reckless endangerment, negligent or vehicular
homicide, harassment, etc., and attempts to commit any such acts.
7. Burglary - Unlawful entry or attempted entry of any fixed structure, vehicle, or vessel used for regular
residence, industry, or business, with or without force, with intent to commit a felony or larceny. The
term is used in the same sense as in the UCR Crime Index.
8. Larceny-theft - Unlawful taking or attempted taking of property (other than a motor vehicle) from the
possession of another, by stealth, without force and without deceit, with intent to permanently deprive
the owner of the property. This term is used in the same sense as in the UCR Crime Index. It includes
shoplifting and purse snatching without force.
9. Motor vehicle theft - Unlawful taking, or attempted taking, of a self-propelled road vehicle owned by
another, with the intent to deprive the owner of it permanently or temporarily. The term is used in the
same sense as in the UCR Crime Index. It includes joyriding or unauthorized use of a motor vehicle as
well as grand theft auto.
10. Arson - Intentional damaging or destruction by means of fire or explosion of the property of another
without the owner's consent, or of any property with intent to defraud, or attempting the above acts.
The term is used in the same sense as in the UCR Crime Index.
11. Forgery (and counterfeiting) - Altering, copying, or imitating something without authority or right,
with the intent to deceive or defraud by passing it as that which is original or genuine. Includes the
selling, buying, or possession of an altered, copied, or imitated thing with the intent to deceive or
defraud.

12. Fraud - Unlawfully depriving a person of their money, property, or legal right, by means of deceit or
intentional misrepresentation. Included are confidence games, credit or debit card fraud, and bad
checks, excludes forgeries and counterfeiting.
13. Embezzlement - Misappropriation or misapplication of money or property entrusted to one's care,
custody, or control.
14. Vandalism - Destroying or damaging, or attempting to destroy or damage, the property of another
without the owner's consent, or public property, except by burning.
15. Stolen property offenses - Unlawfully and knowingly receiving, buying, distributing, selling,
transporting, concealing, or possessing stolen property, or attempting any of the above. The term is
used in the same sense as the UCR category stolen property; buying, receiving, possessing.
16. Trespassing - Unlawful entry or attempted entry of the property of another with the intent to commit a
misdemeanor, other than larceny, or without intent to commit a crime.
17. Other property offenses - This category includes property offenses not distinguished in the categories
above (e.g., extortion, blackmail, tampering, etc.) and attempts to commit any such offenses.
18. Drug trafficking/manufacturing - Unlawful sale, purchase, distribution, manufacture, cultivation, or
transport of a controlled or prohibited drug or attempt to commit these acts (includes possession with
intent to sell).
19. Drug possession/use - Unlawful possession or use of a controlled or prohibited drug or attempt to
commit these acts.
20. Other drug offenses - This category includes drug law violations not distinguished in the categories
above (e.g., possession of drug paraphernalia and visiting a place or permitting occupancy of a place
where drugs are found).
21. Weapons offenses - Unlawful sale, distribution, manufacture, alteration, transportation, possession, or
use of a deadly or dangerous weapon, or accessory, or attempt to commit any of these acts. The term is
used in the same sense as the UCR category weapons; carrying, possessing, etc.
22. Sex offenses (not violent) - All offenses having a sexual element not involving violence. The term
combines the meaning of the UCR categories prostitution and commercialized vice and sex offenses. It
includes offenses such as statutory rape, indecent exposure, prostitution, solicitation, pimping,
lewdness, fornication, adultery, etc.
23. Technical violation of probation or parole - Violations of probation or parole; acts that disobey or go
against the conditions of probation or parole. Examples include: failure to participate in a specific
program, failure to appear for drug tests or meetings, and failure to pay restitution.
24. Obstruction of justice/failure to appear - This category includes intentionally obstructing a court (or
law enforcement) in the administration of justice, acting in a way calculated to lessen the authority or
dignity of the court, failing to obey the lawful order of a court, and violations of probation or parole
other than technical violations, which do not consist of the commission of a crime or are not
prosecuted as such. It includes contempt, perjury, obstructing justice, bribing witnesses, failure to
report a crime, nonviolent resisting arrest, etc.
25. Liquor law violations (not minor in possession) - Being in a public place while intoxicated through
consumption of alcohol, or intake of a controlled substance or drug. It includes public intoxication,
drunkenness, and other liquor law violations. It does not include driving under the influence or minor
in possession. The term is used in the same sense as the UCR category of the same name.
26. Disorderly conduct - Unlawful interruption of the peace, quiet, or order of a community, including
offenses called disturbing the peace, vagrancy, loitering, unlawful assembly, and riot.
8

27. Other offenses against public order - This category includes other offenses against government
administration or regulation, e.g., escape from confinement, bribery, gambling, hitchhiking, health
violations, false fire alarms, immigration violations, etc.
28. Driving-related offenses: This category includes offenses consisting of those misdemeanors and
felonies relating to the operation of self-propelled surface motor vehicles requiring an appearance in
court, including: driving under the influence, hit and run, reckless driving, and driving without a
license. Vehicular homicide should be included under other violent offenses/other offenses against
persons.
99. UNKNOWN – use this only when no offense information is available.

Appendix C: Data Elements Layout
2013 Survey of Juveniles Charged as Adults in Criminal Courts (SJCACC)
Universe: Any case disposed in criminal court in 2013 involving a defendant who was younger than the age of 18 at the time of the crime.
Unit of count: Charge-level, all charges associated with a criminal event and their outcomes in terms of dispositions and sentences that are
linked to those charges.
Data Element Groups Containing Variables

DEG1

Data Element Group Name

Data Element Group Label

DEG1

Defendant information

DEG2

Arrest/Case information

DEG3

Arraignment information

DEG4

Adjudication outcome information

DEG5

Sentencing information

DEG6

Prior criminal history information

DEG7

Legal mechanism for transfer information

Defendant information

Variables within this Data Element Group
Variable

Variable Label
State
County
Date of birth
Sex
Race
Hispanic origin
Case ID#
Defendant ID#
Fingerprint ID#

DEG6

Legal mechanism for transfer information

Variables within this Data Element Group
Variable

Variable Label
Through juvenile court (waiver)
Filed directly in criminal court
Direct file type
Defined as adult ("lower upper age" of juvenile court jurisdiction)

DEG3

Arrest/Case information

Variables within this Data Element Group
Variable

Variable Label
Date of offense
Date of arrest
Number of charges at arrest
Most serious arrest charge statute number
Most serious arrest charge offense description
Is most serious arrest charge an attempt?
Is most serious charge felony or misdemeanor?
Most serious arrest charge level/grade
2nd most serious arrest charge statute number
2nd most serious arrest charge offense description
Is 2nd most serious arrest charge an attempt?
Is 2nd most serious charge felony or misdemeanor?
2nd most serious arrest charge level/grade

DEG4

Arraignment information

Variables within this Data Element Group
Variable

Variable Label
Number of charges at arraignment
Most serious arraignment charge statute number
Most serious arraignment charge offense description
Is most serious arraignment charge an attempt?
Is most serious charge felony or misdemeanor?
Most serious arraignment charge level/grade
2nd most serious arraignment charge statute number
2nd most serious arraignment charge offense description
Is 2nd most serious arraignment charge an attempt?
Is 2nd most serious charge felony or misdemeanor?
2nd most serious arraignment charge level/grade
Legal representation for arraignment

DEG5

Adjudication outcome information

Variables within this Data Element Group
Variable

Variable Label
Date of final adjudication
Type of adjudication
General conviction category
General non conviction category
Was alternative/special assignment made?
Type of alternative adjudication proceeding
Was alternative/special assignment completed?
Number of charges at adjudication
Most serious adjudication charge statute number
Most serious adjudication charge offense description
Is most serious adjudication charge an attempt?
Is most serious charge felony or misdemeanor?
Most serious adjudication charge level/grade
Legal representation for adjudication

DEG6

Sentencing information

Variables within this Data Element Group
Variable

Variable Label
Date of sentence
Incarceration Sentence
Incarceration Type
Probation Sentence
# Probation Months
Jail Sentence
# Jail Months
Jail Suspended- Months
Prison Sentence
# Prison Months- Maximum
Prison Suspended- Months
Fine imposed
Fine dollar amount
Restitution required
Restitution dollar amount
Treatment/counseling
Blended sentencing (juvenile)

Attachment 3: SJCACC Electronic Data Extraction Guide

Survey of Juveniles Charged as Adults
in Criminal Courts (SJCACC): 2013
United States Department of Justice
Bureau of Justice Statistics
Electronic Data Extraction Guide

June 2014
Prepared by:
Westat / National Center for Juvenile Justice

Table of Contents
Table of Contents ................................................................................................................ 1
What is the Study about? .................................................................................................... 2
Will the data be secure and kept confidential?.................................................................... 2
How do I provide the data for my jurisdiction? .................................................................. 3
Uniform Data Extracts ........................................................................................................ 4
What data elements do I include? ................................................................................... 4
How should my file be structured? ................................................................................. 4
What unit of count do I use? ....................................................................................... 4
What cases do I include? ................................................................................................. 5
What file formats are acceptable? ................................................................................... 5
What supporting documentation do I need to submit? ................................................... 5
How do I submit my files? .............................................................................................. 5
Non-Uniform Data Extracts ................................................................................................ 7
What data elements do I include? ................................................................................... 7
What cases do I include? ................................................................................................. 7
What file formats are acceptable? ................................................................................... 7
What supporting documentation do I need to submit? ................................................... 8
How do I submit my files? .............................................................................................. 8
Unformatted Data Files ....................................................................................................... 9
What file formats are acceptable? ................................................................................... 9
What supporting documentation do I need to submit? ................................................... 9
How do I submit my files? ............................................................................................ 10
How do I contact you if I have questions? ........................................................................ 10
Appendix A: Key concepts and definitions ...................................................................... 11
Appendix B: Preferred offense coding categories ............................................................ 13
Appendix C: Uniform Extract Data Layout ...................................................................... 16
Appendix D: Uniform Extract Suggested Coding ............................................................ 19
1

Survey of Juveniles Charged as Adult in Criminal Courts: 2013
(SJCACC)
Electronic Data Extraction Guide
What is the Study about?
The U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) has initiated a data
collection to examine young offenders processed in criminal courts. The SJCACC
sample will be drawn from all felony and misdemeanor cases disposed in criminal courts
in 2013 involving defendants younger than age 18 at the time of the crime. This
information is critical to understanding how many youth are charged in criminal court,
the characteristics of these youth, the pathways that lead them to criminal court, and the
final disposition of their cases.
BJS has retained Westat, a nationally known and highly regarded survey research firm,
and the National Center for Juvenile Justice (NCJJ) a national expert on juvenile
offenders and on state policies for transferring juveniles to adult criminal courts, to
collect data on the processing of youth as adults in criminal court. Westat and the NCJJ
have developed a project design that supports multiple modes of data collection. The
ability to collect data electronically from automated information systems is ultimately
influenced by each jurisdiction’s capacity to extract (or dump) the necessary data from
their system. The purpose of this data extraction guide is (1) to describe the eligible
modes of electronic data submissions, and (2) to provide a set of reporting instructions
and standards for jurisdictions that have the capacity to extract data and create records in
a uniform format.

fully understand the processing of youth charged as adults, we are willing to discuss and
adhere to any data transfer agreement you may have.

How do I provide the data for my jurisdiction?
This document will provide general instructions on reporting requirements, case
identification and selection, variable and value definitions, and file structure. Additional
technical assistance will be provided on a case-by-case basis.
Your jurisdiction may choose to provide data in one of three ways:
1. uniform data extracts,
2. non-uniform data extracts, or
3. unformatted data files.
The rest of this guide provides information and instructions for each type of data
submission.

Uniform Data Extracts
Uniform extracts will require the most effort on the part of your jurisdiction to recode
and restructure data to the project’s specifications. Uniform data extracts, if created
properly, will require the least amount of work for you after submission.
What data elements do I include?
The first step in creating a data extract is identifying the tables necessary to provide the
key data elements (identified in Appendix C). For example, this may include an arrest
table (all arrest charges in the event), arraignment table (all arraignment charges in the
event) and a disposition table (all disposition charges with sentencing information). The
name, number, and structure of tables will vary for each jurisdiction.
Some of the data elements of interest include:
 unique offender identification number capable of tracking the offender through
case processing and to subsequent involvement in the criminal justice system;
 offender demographics (e.g., sex, date of birth, race/ethnicity);
 legal mechanism employed to process the case in criminal court.
 arrest charge(s);
 arraignment charge(s);
 case processing information from arraignment through final case disposition; and
 type of facility where defendant is being held.
Please refer to Appendix C for a detailed listing of data elements.
How should my file be structured?
If your jurisdiction is able to provide a uniform data extract, you will have to establish
relationships between the appropriate fields and records of source tables and the targeted
output layout. Where possible, uniform extract submissions should mirror the preferred
data element coding noted in Appendix D.
The file should be structured according to the uniform reporting layout in Appendix C.
The layout for uniform extracts includes a record for each charge against a defendant that
was disposed, meaning that some records may have information duplicated (i.e., case and
defendant identifiers, demographic information).
We will provide an Excel workbook containing the data element layout with suggested
coding classification options and value labels. You can save a copy locally to enter
information directly or simply use it as a guide.
What unit of count do I use?
Jurisdictions choosing to submit a uniform data extract should structure their data at the
charge-level, where more than one charge may be filed against a single defendant. A
"charge" (or “count”) represents a formal allegation that a person committed a specific
crime. A youth charged with four burglaries submitted in one allegation would contribute
four records in the data extract. A youth arrested for three burglaries and arrested again
4

the following week on another burglary charge would also contribute four separate
records.
Charges (felony and misdemeanor) of interest are those disposed in 2013 against
defendants who were younger than the age of 18 at the time of the crime, regardless of
the age of juvenile court jurisdiction (which varies by state).
What cases do I include?
You will need to identify eligible cases for inclusion by querying your jurisdiction’s case
management system or research database to pull any case filed in criminal court in 2013
involving a defendant who was younger than the age of 18 at the time of the crime.
What file formats are acceptable?
The preferred electronic file formats include:
 Access databases (any version up to Access 2010);
 SQL server databases (2008 or earlier);
 text files (fixed width, delimited); or
 Excel (or .csv) files.
We are not currently accepting Oracle databases or XML files.
What supporting documentation do I need to submit?
You will need to provide some tracking information and relevant documentation for your
data submission, including:
 Date of submission
 Primary point of contact: name, organization, position, address, telephone, fax,
and e-mail address
 File format and format version (e.g., SQL server DB, Access DB, text files (fixed
width, delimited), Excel, etc.)
 Major data quality problems
o Missing data:
 System-missing (data element not available in system)
 Unit-missing (large % of missing values for a particular data
element)
o Common data errors, system-wide or with specific elements (e.g.
misspellings, redundancy, duplication, contradictory values)
How do I submit my files?
You can use Westat’s secure web-based file submission process to transfer your agency’s
data to Westat. Westat will provide your jurisdiction with a username and password to
allow you to log in to the project’s website and deposit the electronic data.
You may deposit as many files as necessary and in any format. For example, your
jurisdiction may want to deposit several files that must be linked to get complete case
data, as well as a Word document that provides the record layout for the files and linking
5

instructions. Additional files, as necessary, may be submitted by your jurisdiction and
separately tracked.
If your jurisdiction requires an alternative means of submission, Westat will work with
you to find the most convenient yet secure method for you to submit your data.
The data collection manager or another appropriate Westat/NCJJ research team member
will be in contact with your jurisdiction in order to initiate and facilitate the data
submission process. If needed, the Westat/NCJJ research team will provide guidance and
assistance with regard to either uploading data via secure FTP or sending encrypted files
on CD.

Non-Uniform Data Extracts
Your jurisdiction may prefer to limit its submission to relevant fields or tables without
programming, recoding or restructuring the data to meet project specifications. If your
jurisdiction is unable or unwilling to report data in the precise format or exact code
categories requested, information system extracts of relevant tables would likely satisfy
the request for required data elements. NCJJ programming staff will then recode and
restructure the data so that it can match the uniform data extracts.

What data elements do I include?
The first step in creating a data extract is identifying the tables necessary to provide the
key data elements identified in Appendix C. For example, this may include an arrest table
(all arrests charges in the event), arraignment table (all arraignment charges in the event)
and a disposition table (all disposition charges with sentencing information). The name,
number, and structure of tables will vary for each jurisdiction.
Some of the data elements of interest include:
 unique offender identification number capable of tracking the offender through
case processing and to subsequent involvement in the criminal justice system;
 offender demographics (e.g., sex, date of birth, race/ethnicity);
 legal mechanism employed to process the case in criminal court.
 arrest charge(s);
 arraignment charge(s);
 case processing information from arraignment through final case disposition; and
 type of facility where defendant is being held.
Please refer to Appendix C for a detailed listing of data elements.
What cases do I include?
You will need to identify eligible cases for inclusion by querying your jurisdiction’s case
management system or research database to pull any case filed in criminal court in 2013
involving a defendant who was younger than the age of 18 at the time of the crime.
What file formats are acceptable?
The preferred electronic file formats include:
 Access databases (any version up to Access 2010);
 SQL server databases (2008 or earlier);
 text files (fixed width, delimited); or
 Excel (or .csv) files.
We are not currently accepting Oracle databases or XML files.

What supporting documentation do I need to submit?
You will need to provide some tracking information and relevant documentation for your
data submission, including:
 Date of submission
 Primary point of contact: name, organization, position, address, telephone, fax,
and e-mail address
 File format and format version (e.g., SQL server DB, Access DB, text files (fixed
width, delimited), Excel, etc.)
 Major data quality problems
o Missing data:
 System-missing (data element not available in system)
 Unit-missing (large % of missing values for a particular data
element)
o Common data errors, system-wide or with specific elements (e.g.
misspellings, redundancy, duplication, contradictory values)
 Data formatting information:
o Diagrams, data dictionaries, an/or field descriptions where available
o Any lookup table that helps to translate data values
o Graphical representation of the physical data source to show underlying
database architecture that would inform the restructuring of data files to
the uniform format
How do I submit my files?
You can use Westat’s secure web-based file submission process to transfer your agency’s
data to Westat. Westat will provide your jurisdiction with a username and password to
allow you to log in to the project’s website and deposit the electronic data.
You may deposit as many files as necessary and in any format. For example, your
jurisdiction may want to deposit several files that must be linked to get complete case
data, as well as a Word document that provides the record layout for the files and linking
instructions. Additional files, as necessary, may be submitted by your jurisdiction and
separately tracked.
If your jurisdiction requires an alternative means of submission, Westat will work with
you to find the most convenient yet secure method for you to submit your data.
The data collection manager or another appropriate Westat/NCJJ research team member
will be in contact with your jurisdiction in order to initiate and facilitate the data
submission process. If needed, the Westat/NCJJ research team will provide guidance and
assistance with regard to either uploading data via secure FTP or sending encrypted files
on CD.

Unformatted Data Files
Unformatted electronic data files (i.e., “data dumps”) are files that contain virtually all
data in a respondent’s automated system. Data dumps are the easiest type of electronic
data extract for you to submit. Your jurisdiction may not have the staff or resources to do
anything more than provide a complete “dump” of your information system. In such
instances, NCJJ programming staff will assume the burden of recoding and restructuring
the data to create the equivalent of the uniform extract.
This submission process, while the least labor-intensive for your jurisdiction, would
require consultation to verify record layouts, unit of count, data element codes and
values, and primary keys for relational tables, etc.
What file formats are acceptable?
The preferred electronic file formats include:
 Access databases (any version up to Access 2010);
 SQL server databases (2008 or earlier);
 text files (fixed width, delimited); or
 Excel (or .csv) files.
We are not currently accepting Oracle databases or XML files.
What supporting documentation do I need to submit?
You will need to provide some tracking information and relevant documentation for your
data submission, including:
 Date of submission
 Primary point of contact: name, organization, position, address, telephone, fax,
and e-mail address
 File format and format version (e.g., SQL server DB, Access DB, text files (fixed
width, delimited), Excel, etc.)
 Major data quality problems
o Missing data:
 System-missing (data element not available in system)
 Unit-missing (large % of missing values for a particular data
element)
o Common data errors, system-wide or with specific elements (e.g.
misspellings, redundancy, duplication, contradictory values)
 Data formatting information:
o Diagrams, data dictionaries, an/or field descriptions where available
o Any lookup table that helps to translate data values
o Graphical representation of the physical data source to show underlying
database architecture that would inform the restructuring of data files to
the uniform format

How do I submit my files?
You can use Westat’s secure web-based file submission process to transfer your agency’s
data to Westat. Westat will provide your jurisdiction with a username and password to
allow you to log in to the project’s web site and deposit the electronic data.
You may deposit as many files as necessary and in any format. For example, your
jurisdiction may want to deposit several files that must be linked to get complete case
data, as well as a Word document that provides the record layout for the files and linking
instructions. Additional files, as necessary, may be submitted by your jurisdiction and
separately tracked.
If your jurisdiction requires an alternative means of submission, Westat will work with
you to find the most convenient yet secure method for you to submit your data.
The data collection manager or another appropriate Westat/NCJJ research team member
will be in contact with your jurisdiction in order to initiate and facilitate the data
submission process. If needed, the Westat/NCJJ research team will provide guidance and
assistance with regard to either uploading data via secure FTP or sending encrypted files
on CD.

How do I contact you if I have questions?
For questions about completing your SJCACC Survey:
SJCACC Help Desk
Toll Free: XXX-XXX-XXXX
Email: [email protected]
Fax: XXX-XXX-XXXX
Mail: 1600 Research Boulevard, Rockville, MD 20850
For general questions about the SJCACC Study:
Paula S. Thompson, PMP
SJCACC, Project Director
Westat
1600 Research Boulevard
Rockville, MD 20850
301-517-4030

Melissa Sickmund, Ph.D.
SJCACC, Project Director
National Center for Juvenile Justice (NCJJ)
3700 South Water Street, Suite 200
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
412–246–0824

Appendix A: Key concepts and definitions
[by order of appearance]
Non-criminal offense: Not a felony or misdemeanor offense. A minor violation of the
law or civil infraction punishable only by a fine (e.g., summary traffic infractions, wild
life/fish and game).
Case ID#: Unique ID assigned to individual cases by the Court.
Defendant ID#: Unique ID assigned to the defendant by the Court.
Fingerprint ID#: An alternative defendant ID—a unique identification related to the
defendant’s fingerprint.
Age: Date of birth and date of offense will be used to calculate the defendant's age at the
time of the offense. However, where these date fields are unavailable the following age
fields will be accepted: age at the time of offense, age at arrest, age at arraignment, and
age at conviction.
Race/Ethnicity: The uniform data extract will attempt to minimally capture those groups
that the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) specifies as necessary for data
collection. OMB standards have five categories for data on race: American Indian or
Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific
Islander, and White. There are two categories for data on ethnicity: "Hispanic or Latino,"
and "Not Hispanic or Latino."
Charge level/grade: The classification of a felony or misdemeanor, generally based on
severity. Class (A, B, C, D), degree (first-degree, second degree), and severity (simple,
aggravated) are all examples of charge levels or grades.
Technical violation: A violation by failure to comply with the conditions of conditional
release other than failure by commission of a new offense. Failure to appear and
probation violation are examples of technical violations.
Arraignment: The hearing before a judge or magistrate where the identity of the
defendant is established, the defendant is informed of their rights and any charges against
them and a plea is entered. The first time, subsequent to the arrest, that formal charge(s)
are entered with a court. This could be called the case filing, initial appearance, or
arraignment hearing.
Adjudication: The point in a case where a judge or magistrate makes an ultimate
decision on the merits of the case. This may be a verdict of guilty or innocent or a
mistrial. Adjudication can also be known as a conviction.
Disposition: An action by a criminal or juvenile justice agency that signifies a decision
has been made on a case or a part of a case and either the process is complete and
jurisdiction is transferred or a new aspect of the case will need to be decided upon.
11

Prison: A state or federal confinement facility having custodial authority over adults
sentenced to confinement.
Jail: A confinement facility administered by an agency of local government intended for
adults but sometimes also containing juveniles and persons’ detained pending
adjudication and persons committed after adjudication, usually those committed on
sentences of a year or less.
Youthful offender facility: A facility in adult jails that holds juveniles whose
jurisdiction in juvenile court extends beyond the age of 18.
Juvenile facility: A separate facility from a jail or prison intended for the holding of
juvenile offenders.
Blended sentencing: The juvenile court has the authority to impose adult criminal
sanctions on certain juvenile offenders. The majority of such laws authorize the juvenile
court to combine a juvenile disposition with a criminal sentence that is suspended. If the
youth successfully completes the juvenile disposition, the criminal sanction is not
imposed. If, however, the youth does not cooperate or fails in the juvenile sanctioning
system, the adult criminal sanction is imposed. Juvenile court blended sentencing
expands the jurisdiction of the juvenile court such that juvenile offenders may face the
same penalties as adult offenders.
Waiver: A ruling by a judge after a hearing transferring jurisdiction over a youth from
juvenile court to criminal court.
Direct file (or concurrent jurisdiction): Prosecutors have the option to file the case
directly in criminal court as well as juvenile court if it meets the criteria for transfer. No
hearing is held and there may be no formal standard for deciding which court to file in.
This is left to the discretion of the prosecutor.
Statutory exclusion: Statutes or laws that state if a juvenile commits a certain list of
enumerated crimes; they will be treated and tried as an adult instead of a juvenile. These
juveniles are excluded by statute from the jurisdiction of the juvenile court.
Once an Adult/Always an Adult: The case met state statutory criteria (age, offense,
criminal history) that require new cases involving a juvenile previously handled or
convicted in criminal court to also be handled in criminal court.
Lower “upper age” of juvenile court jurisdiction: An age below 18 where juvenile
court jurisdiction ends and criminal jurisdiction begins. Most states set the upper age of
juvenile court jurisdiction at 17. This is the highest age at which a juvenile will still be
handled as a juvenile. When a juvenile turns 18, they enter the jurisdiction of the criminal
court; 11* states have ended their juvenile court jurisdiction below the age of 18.
*Applies only to Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New
Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin.
12

Appendix B: Preferred offense coding categories
1. Murder/nonnegligent manslaughter - The willful (nonnegligent) killing of one
human being by another. Deaths caused by negligence, attempts to kill, suicides,
accidental deaths, and justifiable homicides are excluded. The term is used in the same
sense as in the UCR Crime Index. Negligent homicide should be included under other
violent offenses/other offenses against persons.
2. Violent sexual assault - Sexual acts or attempted sexual acts with a female or male
against their will by force or threat of force. Includes rape and violent sex acts other
than forcible rape (e.g., incest, sodomy). The term is broader than the UCR Crime
Index and includes gender-neutral rape or sexual assault statutes that prohibit forced
sexual acts against either sex.
3. Robbery - Unlawful taking or attempted taking of property that is in the immediate
possession of another by force or the threat of force. The term is used in the same
sense as in the UCR Crime Index and includes forcible purse snatching.
4. Aggravated assault - Unlawful intentional inflicting of serious bodily injury, or
unlawful threat or attempt to inflict bodily injury or death, by means of a deadly or
dangerous weapon with or without actual infliction of any injury. The term is used in
the same sense as in the UCR Crime Index. It includes conduct included under the
statutory names aggravated assault and battery, aggravated battery, assault with intent
to kill, assault with intent to commit murder or manslaughter, atrocious assault,
attempted murder, felonious assault, and assault with a deadly weapon.
5. Simple assault - Unlawful intentional inflicting, or attempted or threatened inflicting,
of less than serious bodily injury without a deadly or dangerous weapon. The term is
used in the same sense in UCR reporting. Simple assault is often not distinctly named
in statutes since it consists of all assaults not explicitly named and defined as serious.
6. Other violent offenses/other offenses against persons - This category includes
kidnapping, custody interference, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, reckless
endangerment, negligent or vehicular homicide, harassment, etc., and attempts to
commit any such acts.
7. Burglary - Unlawful entry or attempted entry of any fixed structure, vehicle, or vessel
used for regular residence, industry, or business, with or without force, with intent to
commit a felony or larceny. The term is used in the same sense as in the UCR Crime
Index.
8. Larceny-theft - Unlawful taking or attempted taking of property (other than a motor
vehicle) from the possession of another, by stealth, without force and without deceit,
with intent to permanently deprive the owner of the property. This term is used in the
same sense as in the UCR Crime Index. It includes shoplifting and purse snatching
without force.
9. Motor vehicle theft - Unlawful taking, or attempted taking, of a self-propelled road
vehicle owned by another, with the intent to deprive the owner of it permanently or
temporarily. The term is used in the same sense as in the UCR Crime Index. It
includes joyriding or unauthorized use of a motor vehicle as well as grand theft auto.
10. Arson - Intentional damaging or destruction by means of fire or explosion of the
property of another without the owner's consent, or of any property with intent to
13

defraud, or attempting the above acts. The term is used in the same sense as in the
UCR Crime Index.
11. Forgery (and counterfeiting) - Altering, copying, or imitating something without
authority or right, with the intent to deceive or defraud by passing it as that which is
original or genuine. Includes the selling, buying, or possession of an altered, copied,
or imitated thing with the intent to deceive or defraud.
12. Fraud - Unlawfully depriving a person of their money, property, or legal right, by
means of deceit or intentional misrepresentation. Included are confidence games,
credit or debit card fraud, and bad checks, excludes forgeries and counterfeiting.
13. Embezzlement - Misappropriation or misapplication of money or property entrusted
to one's care, custody, or control.
14. Vandalism - Destroying or damaging, or attempting to destroy or damage, the
property of another without the owner's consent, or public property, except by
burning.
15. Stolen property offenses - Unlawfully and knowingly receiving, buying, distributing,
selling, transporting, concealing, or possessing stolen property, or attempting any of
the above. The term is used in the same sense as the UCR category stolen property;
buying, receiving, possessing.
16. Trespassing - Unlawful entry or attempted entry of the property of another with the
intent to commit a misdemeanor, other than larceny, or without intent to commit a
crime.
17. Other property offenses - This category includes property offenses not distinguished
in the categories above (e.g., extortion, blackmail, tampering, etc.) and attempts to
commit any such offenses.
18. Drug trafficking/manufacturing - Unlawful sale, purchase, distribution,
manufacture, cultivation, or transport of a controlled or prohibited drug or attempt to
commit these acts (includes possession with intent to sell).
19. Drug possession/use - Unlawful possession or use of a controlled or prohibited drug
or attempt to commit these acts.
20. Other drug offenses - This category includes drug law violations not distinguished in
the categories above (e.g., possession of drug paraphernalia and visiting a place or
permitting occupancy of a place where drugs are found).
21. Weapons offenses - Unlawful sale, distribution, manufacture, alteration,
transportation, possession, or use of a deadly or dangerous weapon, or accessory, or
attempt to commit any of these acts. The term is used in the same sense as the UCR
category weapons; carrying, possessing, etc.
22. Sex offenses (not violent) - All offenses having a sexual element not involving
violence. The term combines the meaning of the UCR categories prostitution and
commercialized vice and sex offenses. It includes offenses such as statutory rape,
indecent exposure, prostitution, solicitation, pimping, lewdness, fornication, adultery,
etc.
23. Technical violation of probation or parole - Violations of probation or parole; acts
that disobey or go against the conditions of probation or parole. Examples include:
failure to participate in a specific program, failure to appear for drug tests or meetings,
and failure to pay restitution.
14

24. Obstruction of justice/failure to appear - This category includes intentionally
obstructing a court (or law enforcement) in the administration of justice, acting in a
way calculated to lessen the authority or dignity of the court, failing to obey the lawful
order of a court, and violations of probation or parole other than technical violations,
which do not consist of the commission of a crime or are not prosecuted as such. It
includes contempt, perjury, obstructing justice, bribing witnesses, failure to report a
crime, nonviolent resisting arrest, etc.
25. Liquor law violations (not minor in possession) - Being in a public place while
intoxicated through consumption of alcohol, or intake of a controlled substance or
drug. It includes public intoxication, drunkenness, and other liquor law violations. It
does not include driving under the influence or minor in possession. The term is used
in the same sense as the UCR category of the same name.
26. Disorderly conduct - Unlawful interruption of the peace, quiet, or order of a
community, including offenses called disturbing the peace, vagrancy, loitering,
unlawful assembly, and riot.
27. Other offenses against public order - This category includes other offenses against
government administration or regulation, e.g., escape from confinement, bribery,
gambling, hitchhiking, health violations, false fire alarms, immigration violations, etc.
28. Driving-related offenses: This category includes offenses consisting of those
misdemeanors and felonies relating to the operation of self-propelled surface motor
vehicles requiring an appearance in court, including: driving under the influence, hit
and run, reckless driving, and driving without a license. Vehicular homicide should be
included under other violent offenses/other offenses against persons.
99. UNKNOWN: use this only when no offense information is available.

Appendix C: Uniform Extract Data Layout
2013 Survey of Juveniles Charged as Adults in Criminal Courts (SJCACC)
Universe: Any case disposed in criminal court in 2013 involving a defendant who was younger than the age of 18 at the
time of the crime.
Unit of count: Charge-level, all charges associated with a criminal event and their outcomes in terms of dispositions
and sentences are that are linked to those charges.
Data Element Groups Containing Variables

DEG1

Data Element Group Name

Data Element Group Label

DEG1

Defendant information

DEG2

Arrest/Case information

DEG3

Arraignment information

DEG4

Adjudication outcome information

DEG5

Sentencing information

DEG6

Prior criminal history information

DEG7

Legal mechanism for transfer information

Defendant information

Variables within this Data Element Group
Variable

Variable Label
State
County
Date of birth
Sex
Race
Hispanic origin
Case ID#
Defendant ID#
Fingerprint ID#

DEG6

Legal mechanism for transfer information

Variables within this Data Element Group
Variable

Variable Label
Through juvenile court (waiver)
Filed directly in criminal court
Direct file type
Defined as adult ("lower upper age" of juvenile court jurisdiction)

DEG3

Arrest/Case information

Variables within this Data Element Group
Variable

DEG4

Arraignment information

Variables within this Data Element Group
Variable

DEG5

Adjudication outcome information

Variables within this Data Element Group
Variable

DEG6

Sentencing information

Variables within this Data Element Group
Variable

Appendix D: Uniform Extract Suggested Coding

DATA ELEMENT GROUPS
* unit of count is at the charge-level, please complete the record for each charge on a given case
Defendant
information

Colum
n

Description

Values

Notes

State
County

Where DOB is not
available,
provide one of the
following:

Case ID#

Unique ID assigned to individual cases by the Court.

Defendant ID#
Fingerprint ID# (sometimes referred to as FBI
number)

Unique ID assigned to the defendant by the Court.
Alternative defendant ID—unique to the defendant’s
fingerprint.

Date of birth

MM/DD/YYYY

Age at offense

0 = Missing or suspect
10-99 = good ages

Age at arrest

0 = Missing or suspect
10-99 = good ages

Age at arraignment

0 = Missing or suspect
10-99 = good ages

Age at conviction

0 = Missing or suspect
10-99 = good ages

Sex

1 = Male
2 = Female
9 = Unknown/Missing

Ethnicity

1 = Not Hispanic or Latino
2 = Hispanic or Latino
9 = Unknown/Missing

Race

1 = American Indian or Alaska Native
2 = Asian/Pacific Islander
3 = Black/African American
3 = Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific
Islander
4 = White
5 = Other
9= Unknown or missing

Legal
mechanism
for transfer
information

Column

Description

Values

Notes

Legal mechanism for transfer identified?

0 = No

Can this agency provide information regarding the legal mechanism that allows this youth
under age 18 to be tried in criminal court?

1 = Yes
Legal mechanism type

1= Through juvenile court (waiver)

Ruling by a judge to transfer jurisdiction over a youth from juvenile court to criminal court.

2= Filed directly in criminal court
3= Defined as adult
Direct file sub-category

Arrest/Case
information

Column

("lower upper age" of juvenile court jurisdiction)

1= Statutory exclusion

Case met statutory criteria (age and offense) that exclude it from juvenile court.

2= Concurrent jurisdiction

Case met statutory criteria (age and offense) that allow prosecutors to file in either juvenile
or criminal court.

3= Once an adult/always an adult

Case me statutory criteria (age, offense, criminal history) that require new cases involving a
juvenile previously handled or convicted in criminal court to also be handled in criminal
court.

Description

Values

Notes

Date of offense

MM/DD/YYYY

Date of arrest

MM/DD/YYYY

Number of charges at arrest

0 = Unknown or missing

Type of charge 1 (Felony/Misdemeanor)

1= Felony

1-999 = valid number of charges
2= Misdemeanor
9= Unknown or missing

Arrest/Case information
(cont.)

Column

Description

Values

General offense subcategory

1= Criminal homicide

Notes

2= Violent sexual assault
3= Robbery
4= Simple assault
5= Aggravated assault
6= other person offense
7= Burglary
8= Larceny/theft
9= Motor vehicle theft
10= Arson
11= Vandalism
12= Stolen property
13= Trespassing
14= Forgery
15= Fraud
16= Other property offense
17= Trafficking/manufacturing
18= Possession/use
19= Other drug law offense
20= Weapon offense
21= Sex offense (non-violent)
22= Liquor law, not status
23= Disorderly conduct
24= Obstruction of justice
25= Driving-related offense
26= Other public order offense
Statute Number

text field

Level/Grade

text field

Specific offense description

text field

(E.g., Felony 1, Misdemeanor 1, Class C offense).

Arraignment information

Column

Description

Values

Date of arraignment

MM/DD/YYYY

Legal representation for arraignment

1= Public defender

Notes

2= Private attorney
3= Assigned/contracted attorney
4= Pro se
5= Other
9= Unknown or missing
Number of charges at arraignment

0 = Unknown or missing
1-999 = valid number of charges

Type of charge 1 (Felony/Misdemeanor)

1= Felony
2= Misdemeanor
9= Unknown or missing

General offense subcategory

1= Criminal homicide
2= Violent sexual assault
3= Robbery
4= Simple assault
5= Aggravated assault
6= other person offense
7= Burglary
8= Larceny/theft
9= Motor vehicle theft
10= Arson
11= Vandalism
12= Stolen property
13= Trespassing
14= Forgery
15= Fraud
16= Other property offense
17= Trafficking/manufacturing
18= Possession/use
19= Other drug law offense
20= Weapon offense
21= Sex offense (non-violent)
22= Liquor law, not status
23= Disorderly conduct
24= Obstruction of justice

waived right to an attorney

Arraignment information

Column

Description

Values

(cont’d)

Notes

25= Driving-related offense
26= Other public order offense
Statute Number

Adjudication/
Conviction information

Column

text field

Level/Grade

text field

Specific offense description

text field

Description

Values

Date of final adjudication

MM/DD/YYYY

Legal representation for adjudication

1= Public defender

(E.g., Felony 1, Misdemeanor 1, Class C offense)
Notes

2= Private attorney
3= Assigned/contracted
attorney
4= Pro se
5= Other
9= Unknown or missing
Number of charges at adjudication

0 = Unknown or missing
1-999 = valid number of
charges

Type of charge 1 (Felony/Misdemeanor)

1= Felony
2= Misdemeanor
9= Unknown or missing

General offense subcategory

waived right to an attorney

Adjudication/

Column

Description

Values

Conviction information

18= Possession/use

(cont.)

19= Other drug law offense

Notes

20= Weapon offense
21= Sex offense (non-violent)
22= Liquor law, not status
23= Disorderly conduct
24= Obstruction of justice
25= Driving-related offense
26= Other public order offense
Statute Number

text field

Level/Grade

text field

Specific offense description

text field

Outcome of adjudication for charge 1

1= Conviction

(E.g., Felony 1, Misdemeanor 1, Class C offense)

2= Nonconviction
3= Other
4= Pending
9= Unknown or missing
Type of conviction

1= Nolo contendere

No contest

2= Bench trial
3= Jury trial
Type of nonconviction

1= Dismissal/Nolle prosequi
2= Dismissal for want of
prosecution
3= Bench trial
4= Jury trial

Sentencing information

Column

Description

Values

Date of sentence

MM/DD/YYYY

Type of sentence imposed

1= Incarceration
2= Probation
3= Treatment/Counseling
4= Fine
5= Restitution
6= Other

Notes

Sentencing information
(cont.)

Column

Description

Values

Type of incarceration imposed (Adult facility)

1= Prison
2= Youthful offender facility
3= Jail

Type of juvenile correctional facility

1= Blended sentencing
2= Juvenile facility only

Life or LWOP sentence

0 = No

Length of prison sentence imposed

No. of months

Length of prison sentence suspended

No. of months

1 = Yes

Length of prison sentence time-served

No. of months

Length of youthful offender facility sentence

No. of months

Length of jail sentence imposed

No. of months

Length of jail sentence suspended

No. of months

Length of jail sentence time-served

No. of months

Length of juvenile facility sentence (in months)

No. of months

Length of probation sentence (in months)

No. of months

Fine dollar amount

$ Dollars

Victim restitution dollar amount

$ Dollars

State restitution dollar amount

$ Dollars

Notes
A facility in adult jails that holds juveniles whose jurisdiction in
juvenile court extends beyond the age of 18.

Attachment 4: Westat/NCJJ SJCACC Participant Letter

December X, 2014

Name of Court Administrator
Title
Address
Address
City, State Zip
Dear Court Administrator:

Westat and the National Center for Juvenile Justice are pleased to conduct the Survey of Juveniles Charged in
Adult Criminal Court (SJCACC) on behalf of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics.
To decide on the most efficient approach to meet the project’s goals, we are requesting information on the
availability of key variables in your court’s case management system. The availability and reliability of these data
are of critical importance in designing our sample approach and data collection procedures. Please help us
understand how we can develop a plan that will make it possible for your state to contribute data to this important
study.
In each state, we will need to collect information that will be the basis for estimating or directly counting the
number of juveniles younger than 18 (at the time of their offense) adjudicated in your adult criminal courts in
2013. Additionally, we will need to know if your information system can provide data on the youth’s
demographic characteristics, state fingerprint-based ID number, date of court referral, court charge(s),
adjudication type and date, and sentence length and type. If your statewide data system can provide this
information, we will work with you to develop a process for contributing the needed information to this study. If
your state does not have a statewide system that can provide the information, we will collaborate with you on a
plan that will provide useful substitute information to the study, such as statewide summary data or data from a
sample of jurisdictions in your state.
We have enclosed a SJCACC Contact Information Form. Please provide the contact information for the best
individuals to speak to at your court regarding this data request. If you prefer to designate someone else to
respond to this request for information, please show that on the form and return it in the postage paid, preaddressed envelope provided. You may also fax it to 1-855-654-9639 or email to [email protected].
Please return the completed form by December XX, 2014. In the next few weeks, a representative from our
SJCACC project team will be in touch with you or your designee, regarding your state court’s participation.

Sincerely,

Paula S. Thompson, PMP
Senior Study Director
Westat

Melissa Sickmund, Ph.D.
Director
National Center for Juvenile Justice

File Type	application/pdf
File Modified	2014-12-15
File Created	2014-12-15