Research has clearly shown that youth with disabilities are
over-represented in juvenile correctional facilities (Burrell &
Warboys, 2000; Rutherford, Nelson, & Woford, 1985;
Bullock & McArthur, 1994).
A conservative estimate of the number of youth with
disabilities in juvenile corrections is 32%. (Quinn, Rutherford,
& Leone, 2001). Some researchers estimate this
percentage may be as high as 50% (Casey & Keilitz, 1990).
In contrast, 9-10% of U.S. school-age children have been
identified as having disabilities.
Of the youth with disabilities in corrections, one survey found
46% had learning disabilities, and 45% had emotional
disturbance (Quinn, Rutherford, & Leone, 2001).