Long known for locking away more people than any other nation, the United States has made progress in terms of incarcerating fewer youths over the past two decades.

Since 1995, the rate of young people confined in prison has steadily dropped, and is now down to its lowest level in 35 years, according to a report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

The rate 18 years ago was 381 youths per 100,000 people. By 2010, it had dropped 41%, down to 225 per 100,000.

Foundation officials said in their report that the reduction in incarceration rates has not produced any increases in crime. Instead, “crime has fallen sharply even as juvenile justice systems have locked up fewer delinquent youth,” the report reads.

The report also revealed that many young people behind bars in 2010 were not there for violent crimes or robbery. In fact, only 25% were.

The largest group of offenders (40%) consisted of drug and probation violators and those committing “status” offenses, such as truancy or illegal possession of alcohol.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

To Learn More:

Report Reveals Dramatic Decline In Youth Incarceration (by Susan Ferris, Center for Public Integrity)

Reducing Youth Incarceration in the United States (Annie E. Casey Foundation) (pdf)

Supreme Court Hears Cases of 14-Year-Olds Given Life Imprisonment without Parole (by David Wallechinsky and Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)