Changing Responses to Juvenile Arrests: Analyzing 30 Years of Juvenile Court Records.

This article examines changes in juvenile formal social control in the United States from 1985 to 2014 by analyzing national juvenile arrest and court data. It finds that despite declining juvenile arrests, the juvenile justice system has expanded its reach—referred to as "net-widening"—through stronger law enforcement-court connections and increased use of less severe dispositions such as probation and dismissals, many occurring prior to adjudication. While these less severe interventions may appear less punitive, the study highlights concerns that any formal system involvement can carry adverse legal, social, and developmental consequences for youth. The findings underscore the importance of scrutinizing intake and petition decisions and call for further research on the long-term impacts of expanded but less severe juvenile justice system contact.