Private and Public Juvenile Placements: Is there a Difference?

This study examines the patterns of public and private juvenile placements in one of the larger probation departments in Southern California. About two-thirds of the juveniles sent to institutional placements were placed in a private setting, and one-third were assigned to public institutions. This pattern was due to financial arrangements between the state and the county government. There were indications that more juveniles with the traditional “delinquent” background were placed in public institutions, while juveniles with individual problems were more likely to be sent to private placements. The policy implications of these patterns are analyzed in the article.