The Nation - News from Oct. 21, 1985

Most states do not keep records on juvenile offenses, even though many recent initiatives have been aimed at singling out likely career criminals, the Justice Department said Sunday. A survey showed that in December, 1984, 26 states indicated they had “no juvenile records.” Even among states that did keep such files, juvenile statistics were considered insignificant. But the department said “evidence suggests that the public is growing more inclined to hold juveniles criminally culpable.”