Trend in Arrest Rate for Juvenile Crime Discussion Questions

  

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U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
JUVENILE JUSTICE
STATISTICS
NATIONAL REPORT SERIES BULLETIN
August 2019
Caren Harp, OJJDP Administrator • David B. Muhlhausen, NIJ Director
Juvenile Arrests, 2017
Charles Puzzanchera
Highlights
This bulletin documents the latest trends in arrests involving juveniles (youth younger than age 18) by
drawing on arrest estimates developed by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the National Center for
Juvenile Justice based on analyses of data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Uniform Crime
Reporting program. Overall, juvenile arrests have been on the decline for more than a decade, but
patterns vary by demographic group and offense.
n The juvenile arrest rate for aggravated
assault declined in the last 5 years, the
robbery arrest rate stayed about the same,
and the murder arrest rate increased
annually since 2012.
n Juvenile arrest rates for property crimes have
In 2017, law enforcement agencies made an estimated 809,700 arrests of youth
younger than 18—the fewest arrests of juveniles in nearly four decades
Number of arrests, youth ages 0–17
3,000,000
2,500,000
Total arrests
n The violent crime arrest rate for older
2,000,000
juveniles (ages 15 to 17) was lower than the
rates for young adults (ages 18 to 20 and 21
to 24).
1,500,000
1,000,000
n Male and female juvenile arrest rates have
500,000
0
declined in recent years. By 2017, juvenile
arrest rates for larceny-theft, burglary, and
arson were at their lowest levels since at
least 1980, while rates for motor vehicle theft
increased annually since 2013.
81
84
87
90
93
96
99
Year
02
05
08
11
14
17
•n Arrests of juveniles (youth ages 0–17) peaked in 1996, at nearly 2.7 million. Arrests of juveniles have
since declined—the number in 2017 was 70% below the 1996 peak. In comparison, arrests of adults
fell 21% during the same period.
Data source: Analysis of arrest data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the National Center for Juvenile Justice.
(See data source note on page 13 for details.)
ojjdp.gov
nij.gov
declined in the last 10 years; however, the
relative declines have been greater for males
than for females across many offenses. As a
result, the female share of juvenile arrests
has grown since 1980.
n Juvenile arrest rates involving violent crimes
(such as murder and robbery) tend to be
much higher for black youth than for white
youth. Conversely, arrest rates for liquor law
violations were higher for American Indian
and white youth than black youth.
A Message From
OJJDP and NIJ
This bulletin provides an overview of
the nation’s juvenile crime problem
by analyzing arrest data from the
Federal Bureau of Investigation’s
Uniform Crime Reporting program.
The cumulative data in this bulletin
reveal recent and long-term shifts in
juvenile arrests based on offense,
gender, and race. It is a useful tool
for juvenile justice practitioners,
researchers, policymakers, and
others who seek to prevent, intervene
in, and respond to juvenile
delinquency.
The total number of arrests involving
juveniles in 2017 was at its lowest
level since at least 1980, and much
of the decline has occurred in the
past 10 years. Between 2008 and
2017, the number of juvenile arrests
fell 59%. However, juvenile arrests
for certain offenses increased in the
last few years. Among violent crimes,
juvenile arrests for aggravated
assault declined 9% between 2013
and 2017, while arrests for robbery
increased about 1% and arrests for
murder increased 23%. Among
property crimes, juvenile arrests for
burglary, larceny-theft, and arson
reached historic lows in 2017, while
arrests for motor vehicle theft
increased in each year since 2013.
Relative declines in arrests have
been greater for boys than for girls
across many offenses. As a result,
the female share of juvenile arrests
has grown from 18% in 1980 to 29%
in 2017.
OJJDP and NIJ remain committed to
supporting research, programs, and
initiatives to combat juvenile
delinquency and to provide positive
outcomes for youth, their families,
and their communities.
Caren Harp
OJJDP Administrator
David B. Muhlhausen, Ph.D.
NIJ Director
­2
The FBI’s UCR program provides
data about juvenile arrests
What do arrest statistics
count?
Findings in this bulletin are drawn from data
that local law enforcement agencies across
the country report to the Federal Bureau of
Investigation’s (FBI’s) Uniform Crime
Reporting (UCR) program. To properly
interpret the material presented, the reader
needs a clear understanding of what arrest
statistics count. Arrest statistics report the
number of arrests that law enforcement
agencies made in a given year—not the
number of individuals arrested nor the
number of crimes committed. The number of
arrests is not the same as the number of
people arrested because an unknown
number of individuals are arrested more than
once during the year. Nor do arrest statistics
represent the number of crimes that arrested
individuals commit because a series of
crimes that one person commits may
culminate in a single arrest, and a single
crime may result in the arrest of more than
one person. This latter situation, where many
arrests result from one crime, is relatively
common in juvenile law-violating behavior
because juveniles* often commit crimes in
groups. For this reason, one should not use
arrest statistics to indicate the relative
proportions of crime that juveniles and adults
commit. Arrest statistics are most
appropriately a measure of entry into the
justice system.
Arrest statistics also are limited in measuring
the volume of arrests for a particular offense.
Under the UCR program, the FBI requires law
enforcement agencies to classify only the
most serious offense charged in an arrest.
For example, the arrest of a youth charged
with aggravated assault and possession of a
weapon would be reported to the FBI as an
arrest for aggravated assault. Therefore,
* In this bulletin, “juvenile” refers to persons younger
than age 18. In 2017, this definition was at odds with
the legal definition of juveniles in nine states—seven
states where all 17-year-olds are defined as adults,
and two states where all 16- and 17-year-olds are
defined as adults.
when arrest statistics show that law
enforcement agencies made an estimated
18,370 arrests of young people for weapons
law violations in 2017, it means that a
weapons law violation was the most serious
charge in these arrests. An unknown number
of additional arrests in 2017 included a
weapons charge as a lesser offense.
Crime in the United
States reports data
on murder victims
Each Crime in the United States report,
published by the FBI, presents estimates
of the number of crimes reported to law
enforcement agencies. Although many
crimes are never reported, murder is
one crime that is nearly always
reported. An estimated 17,284 murders
were reported to law enforcement
agencies in 2017, or 5.3 murders for
every 100,000 U.S. residents. The
murder rate was essentially constant
between 1999 and 2006 and then fell
22% through 2014, reaching its lowest
level since at least 1980. The rate has
increased in each of the last 3 years,
however, so that by 2017, the rate was
at the highest level since 2009.
Of all murder victims in 2017, 92% (or
15,889 victims) were 18 years old or
older. The other 1,395 murder victims
were younger than age 18 (i.e.,
juveniles). The number of juvenile
murder victims declined 33% between
2007 and 2013, reaching its lowest
level since at least 1980. Following 4
years of increase, the number of juvenile
murder victims in 2017 was 16% above
the 2013 low point and 52% below the
1993 peak, when an estimated 2,880
juveniles were murdered.
Of all juveniles murdered in 2017, 34%
were younger than age 5, 72% were
male, 43% were white, and more than
half (56%) were killed by a firearm.
National Report Series Bulletin
In 2017, law enforcement agencies in the United States
made more than 809,700 arrests of persons younger than 18
The number of arrests of juveniles in 2017 was 59% fewer than the number of arrests in 2008
Percent of total juvenile arrests
Most serious offense
Total
Violent Crime*
Murder and nonnegligent
manslaughter
Rape*
Robbery
Aggravated assault
Property Crime Index
Burglary
Larceny-theft
Motor vehicle theft
Arson
Nonindex
Other (simple) assault
Forgery and counterfeiting
Fraud
Embezzlement
Stolen property (buying,
receiving, possessing)
Vandalism
Weapons (carrying, possessing, etc.)
Prostitution and commercialized vice
Sex offense (except rape and
prostitution)*
Drug abuse violation
Gambling
Offenses against the family
and children
Driving under the influence
Liquor law violation
Drunkenness
Disorderly conduct
Vagrancy
All other offenses (except traffic)
Curfew and loitering
2017 estimated number
of juvenile arrests
809,700
48,470
Female
29%
20
Younger
than 15
28%
27
Percent change
White
62%
45
2008–2017
–59%
–48
2013–2017
–25%
–5
2016–2017
–5%
1
910
8
9
38
–27
23
7
NA
19,330
28,220
168,050
30,850
118,660
16,300
2,240
NA
10
26
30
12
37
18
14
NA
19
33
29
31
28
24
57
NA
32
54
56
56
57
45
73
NA
–45
–49
–61
–63
–63
–34
–65
NA
1
–9
–31
–28
–36
40
–39
NA
1
1
–9
–4
–12
4
–12
123,040
1,220
4,760
640
37
22
33
43
39
14
20
8
58
58
46
55
–47
–53
–34
–49
–16
16
6
60
–5
1
3
–6
10,500
16
21
41
–49
1
–4
36,720
18,370
280
18
10
61
40
29
14
69
54
45
–66
–54
–81
–21
–10
–63
–6
–5
–44
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
94,830
270
24
18
15
13
74
21
–47
–83
–19
–62
–4
7
3,770
37
34
58
–35
35
9
6,080
33,560
4,300
62,530
730
149,050
30,130
25
41
30
36
22
28
30
2
12
13
39
26
25
29
89
87
78
54
53
66
56
–62
–74
–72
–67
–82
–59
–77
–20
–43
–41
–34
–16
–24
–47
–6
–9
–10
–5
–6
–4
–12
•n The number of arrests involving juveniles in 2017 was at its lowest level since at least 1980, and much of the decline has occurred in the past 10
years. Between 2008 and 2017, the number of juvenile arrests fell 59%.
•n Among violent crimes, arrests for aggravated assault declined 9% between 2013 and 2017, while arrests for robbery increased about 1% and
arrests for murder increased 23%.
•n In 2017, there were an estimated 123,040 juvenile arrests for simple assault. More than one-third (37%) of these arrests involved females, nearly
4 in 10 (39%) involved youth younger than 15, and 58% involved white youth.
*Beginning in 2013, the FBI broadened the definition of rape, removing the phrase “forcible” from the offense name and description. (See the Notes on page 13 for more
detail.) Due to differences in agency reporting practices, national estimates for the offenses of “rape” and “sex offenses” are not available after 2012. The “violent
crimes” category (which includes murder, robbery, and aggravated assault) replaces the Violent Crime Index (which included “forcible rape”), as the latter category is no
longer compatible with prior years. In any given year prior to the change in the rape definition, these three offenses accounted for more than 95% of arrests for Violent
Crime Index offenses.
Note: Detail may not add to totals because of rounding.
Data source: Analysis of arrest data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the National Center for Juvenile Justice. (See data source note on page 13 for details.)
August 2019 ­3
Despite increases in the last year, juvenile arrests for
violent crime remain near historically low levels
Juvenile arrests for violent
crimes increased 1% since
2015
This bulletin uses a measure of violence that
includes the offenses of murder, robbery, and
aggravated assault.* Following 10 years of
decline between 1994 and 2004, juvenile
arrests for violent crimes increased through
2006 and then declined each year through
2015, reaching its lowest level since at least
1980. Despite a 1% increase since 2015, the
number of juvenile arrests for violent crimes
in 2017 was 66% less than the 1994 peak.
After falling 71% between 1993 and 2004,
juvenile arrests for murder increased through
2007, then declined 46% through 2012 to
reach the lowest level in three decades.
However, the number of juvenile arrests for
murder has increased each year since 2012.
Juvenile arrests for robbery were cut in half
between 1995 and 2002, increased through
2008, and then fell 47% through 2015. After
*See the Notes on page 13 for differences in the
definition of rape that prohibit it from being included in
the measure of violent crimes for trending purposes.
reaching the lowest level since at least 1980,
the number of juvenile robbery arrests
increased 4% by 2017. The number of
juvenile arrests for aggravated assault, which
account for 58% of all juvenile arrests for
violent crime, fell 67% between 1994 and
2016 to the lowest level in the last 36 years.
This decline was followed by a 1% increase
in the last year.
Between 1994 and 2017, the number of
juvenile Property Crime Index arrests fell 78%
and reached its lowest level since at least
1980. Between 2008 and 2017, juvenile
arrests declined for individual property
offenses: burglary (63%), larceny-theft (63%),
motor vehicle theft (34%), and arson (65%).
Percent change in juvenile arrests
2008–2017
Juvenile property crime
arrests declined each year
since 2008
Law enforcement agencies nationwide
consistently report data on four offenses that
form the Property Crime Index—burglary,
larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and
arson—to determine trends in the number of
property crime arrests.
For the period 1980–1994, during which
juvenile violent crime arrests increased
substantially, juvenile property crime arrests
remained relatively constant. After this long
period of relative stability, juvenile property
crime arrests began a two-decade decline.
Most serious offense
Juvenile
Adult
Violent crime*
Murder
Robbery
Aggravated assault
Property Crime Index
Burglary
Larceny-theft
Motor vehicle theft
Simple assault
Weapons law violations
Drug abuse violations
–48%
–27
–45
–49
–61
–63
–63
–34
–47
–54
–47
–7%
–3
–21
–4
–14
–25
–12
2
–12
5
1
*Includes murder, robbery, and aggravated assault.
Data source: Analysis of arrest data from the
Bureau of Justice Statistics and the National Center
for Juvenile Justice. (See data source note on page
13 for details.)
Juvenile arrests for Property Crime Index offenses reached a historic low in 2017 while arrests for violent crimes were
1% above the 2015 historic low
Number of arrests, youth ages 0–17
160,000
Number of arrests, youth ages 0–17
800,000
140,000
700,000
120,000
100,000
500,000
80,000
400,000
60,000
300,000
40,000
200,000
20,000
100,000
0
81
85
89
93
97
01
Year
05
Property Crime Index
600,000
Violent crime
09
13
•n Juvenile arrests for violent crimes reached a historic low in 2015, and
increased slightly (1%) through 2017.
17
0
81
85
89
93
97
01
Year
05
09
13
17
•n Arrests for Property Crime Index offenses have declined annually since
2008, falling 61% by 2017.
Data source: Analysis of arrest data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the National Center for Juvenile Justice. (See data source note on page 13 for details.)
­4
National Report Series Bulletin
Juvenile arrest rates for murder, robbery, and aggravated
assault were at or near historic lows
Murder rate
Robbery rate
Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17
200
Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17
14
12
160
10
Murder
8
6
80
4
40
2
0
Robbery
120
81
85
89
93
97
01
Year
05
09
13
17
•n The juvenile murder arrest rate fell 44% between 2007 and 2012, when
it reached its lowest level since at least 1980. This decline was followed
by a 26% increase through 2017.
•n The growth in the juvenile murder arrest rate between 2012 and 2017
returned it to near its 2011 level; however, the rate in 2017 was 79%
less than its 1993 peak.
Aggravated assault rate
81
85
89
93
97
01
Year
05
09
13
17
•n The juvenile robbery arrest rate in 2015 reached its lowest level in
more than three decades, but then increased 4% in the last 2 years.
In 2017, the rate was 44% below the 2008 rate and 68% below the
1994 peak.
•n Juvenile robbery arrest rates declined for all gender and racial
subgroups since 2008: 45% for males, 37% for females, 53% for
Asians, 44% for blacks, 42% for whites, and 33% for American Indians.
Simple assault rate
Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17
300
Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17
800
700
250
Aggravated assault
Simple assault
600
200
500
150
400
300
100
200
50
0
0
100
81
85
89
93
97
01
Year
05
09
13
17
•n Unlike the pattern for robbery, the juvenile arrest rate for aggravated
assault declined steadily for more than two decades. Following a
49% decline in the last 10 years, the rate in 2017 remained near its
lowest level since at least 1980 and 70% below the 1994 peak.
•n Although juvenile arrest rates for aggravated assault and simple
assault each declined in the last 10 years, the relative decline was
greater for aggravated assault (49%) than for simple assault (46%).
0
81
85
89
93
97
01
Year
05
09
13
17
•n The simple assault arrest rate declined steadily since 2004, falling 50%
through 2017. Despite this decline, the rate in 2017 remained well above
the 1981 low point.
•n Since 2004, the relative decline in the number of juvenile arrests for
simple assault outpaced that of adults (51% vs. 9%). As a result, 12%
of simple assault arrests in 2017 involved a juvenile, compared with
20% in 2004.
Data source: Analysis of arrest data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the National Center for Juvenile Justice and population data from the U.S. Census Bureau and
the National Center for Health Statistics. (See data source note on page 13 for details.)
August 2019 ­5
Juvenile arrest rates for burglary, larceny-theft, and
arson reached historic lows in 2017
Burglary rate
Larceny-theft rate
Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17
800
700
600
500
Burglary
400
300
200
100
0
81
85
89
93
97
01
Year
05
09
13
17
•n Unlike the pattern for other property crimes, the trend in the juvenile
arrest rate for burglary was a steady decline since 1980. By 2017, the
rate reached its lowest level of the 38-year period.
•n The large decline in juvenile burglary arrests was not reflected in the
adult statistics. For example, between 2008 and 2017, the number of
juvenile burglary arrests fell 63%, while adult burglary arrests fell 25%.
As a result of this decline, 15% of all burglary arrests in 2017 were
juvenile arrests, compared with 27% in 2008.
Motor vehicle theft rate
Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17
1,800
1,600
1,400
Larceny-theft
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0
81
85
89
93
97
01
05
09
Year
•n Juvenile arrests for larceny-theft typically involve older juveniles (ages
15–17). Since 2008, older juveniles accounted for 70% or more of
juvenile larceny theft arrests.
Arson rate
Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17
35
300
30
20
150
15
100
10
50
5
0
81
85
89
93
97
01
Year
05
09
Arson
25
Motor vehicle theft
200
17
•n The juvenile larceny-theft arrest rate declined steadily from the mid1990s through 2006. This decline was interrupted by 2 years of
increase, and then followed by 9 consecutive years of decline. By 2017,
the rate was 63% below the level 10 years prior and at its lowest level
since at least 1980.
Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17
350
250
13
13
17
•n Like the larceny-theft pattern, the juvenile motor vehicle theft arrest
rate declined considerably since the mid-1990s. However, unlike
larceny-theft, the motor vehicle theft arrest rate increased in each of
the last 4 years. After reaching its lowest level in 2013, the juvenile
motor vehicle theft arrest rate increased 39% by 2017.
•n The juvenile motor vehicle theft arrest rates increased for all
demographic subgroups in the last 4 years: 48% for females,
38% for males, 89% for American Indians, 64% for blacks,
62% for Asians, and 18% for whites.
0
81
85
89
93
97
01
Year
05
09
13
17
•n With few exceptions, the juvenile arrest rate for arson has declined since
the mid-1990s. Following 6 consecutive years of decline, the juvenile
arson arrest rate in 2017 fell to its lowest level of the 1980–2017 period.
•n Arson is the criminal act with the largest proportion of juvenile arrestees.
In 2017, 25% of all arson arrests were arrests of juveniles, and most of
these juvenile arrests (57%) involved youth younger than 15. In
comparison, 12% of all larceny-theft arrests in 2017 involved juveniles,
but only 28% of these juvenile arrests involved youth younger than 15.
Data source: Analysis of arrest data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the National Center for Juvenile Justice and population data from the U.S. Census Bureau and
the National Center for Health Statistics. (See data source note on page 13 for details.)
­6
National Report Series Bulletin
In 2017, juvenile arrest rates for weapons and vandalism
were at their lowest levels
Weapons law violation rate
Drug abuse violation rate
Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17
250
Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17
700
600
200
500
Weapons
150
300
100
200
50
0
Drug abuse violation
400
100
81
85
89
93
97
01
Year
05
09
13
17
•n Similar to robbery, the juvenile arrest rate for weapons law violations
declined considerably since the mid-1990s. This decline was interrupted
between 2002 and 2006, when the juvenile weapons law violation
arrest rate increased 32%. The rate has since fallen 60%, bringing the
2017 rate to its lowest level since 1980.
•n The relative decline in weapons law violation arrests in the last 10 years
was not replicated in the adult statistics. Since 2008, the number of
juvenile weapons law violation arrests fell 54%, while adult arrests
increased 5%.
Vandalism rate
0
81
85
400
05
09
13
17
•n Following a period of relative stability between 2000 and 2006, the
juvenile drug abuse arrest rate declined 51% through 2017, reaching its
lowest level since the early 1990s, and just 5% above the 1983 low point.
•n The juvenile drug abuse arrest rate declined for most race groups in the
last 10 years, falling 55% for black youth, 43% for white youth, and
28% for Asian youth; during this same period, the arrest rate for
American Indian youth increased 13%.
800
300
1994
600
200
1980
400
100
2017
200
85
97
01
Year
Arrests per 100,000 population in age group
1,200
Violent crime offenses
1,000
Vandalism
81
93
Violent crime age rate
Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17
500
0
89
89
93
97
01
Year
05
09
13
17
0
10
15
20
25
30
35 40
Age
45
50
55
60
65
•n Following 11 consecutive years of decline, the juvenile vandalism
arrest rate in 2017 fell to its lowest level since at least 1980 and
78% below the 1994 peak.
•n Regardless of age, the violent crime (murder, robbery, and aggravated
assault) arrest rate grew substantially between 1980 and 1994. During
this period, the relative increase was greater for juveniles than adults.
•n Since 2006, the relative decline in the number of juvenile arrests for
vandalism outpaced that of adults (69% vs. 17%). As a result,
19% of vandalism arrests in 2017 involved a juvenile, compared
with 39% in 2006.
•n By 2017, arrest rates for violent crimes fell substantially from the 1994
peak for every age group younger than 45. Juveniles showed the largest
decline—falling more than 65% in each age group from 10 through 17.
In comparison, the rates dropped an average of 57% for young adults
ages 18–21, 44% for adults ages 22–24, 36% for those ages 25–29,
and 30% for those ages 30–39.
Data source: Analysis of arrest data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the National Center for Juvenile Justice and population data from the U.S. Census Bureau and
the National Center for Health Statistics. (See data source note on page 13 for details.)
August 2019 ­7
In 2017, about 1 in 5 juvenile violent crime arrests involved
females and more than half involved minority youth
Females accounted for
29% of juvenile arrests
in 2017
In 2017, law enforcement agencies made
234,990 arrests of females younger than age
18 and 574,715 arrests of males. Although
males accounted for the majority (71%) of
juvenile arrests overall in 2017, the female
share was relatively high for certain offenses,
including larceny-theft (37%), liquor law
violations (41%), simple assault (37%), and
disorderly conduct (36%). Females accounted
for 20% of juvenile violent crime arrests and
26% of aggravated assault arrests in 2017.
From 2008 through 2017, arrests of juvenile
females decreased less than male arrests in
most offense categories (e.g., aggravated
and simple assault, robbery, vandalism, and
drug abuse violations).
Percent change in juvenile arrests
2008–2017
Male
Most serious offense Female
Violent crime*
Robbery
Aggravated assault
Simple assault
Property Crime Index
Burglary
Larceny-theft
Motor vehicle theft
Vandalism
Weapons
Drug abuse violation
Driving under influence
Liquor law violation
Disorderly conduct
–42%
–38
–43
–42
–67
–64
–69
–22
–54
–50
–19
–62
–72
–63
–49%
–46
–51
–50
–58
–63
–59
–37
–67
–54
–52
–62
–75
–69
*Includes murder, robbery, and aggravated assault.
Data source: Analysis of arrest data from the
Bureau of Justice Statistics and the National Center
for Juvenile Justice. (See data source note on page
13 for details.)
Gender differences also occurred in arrest
trends for adults. For example, between 2008
and 2017, adult male arrests for aggravated
assault fell 6% while adult female arrests
increased 5%, and adult male arrests for
­8
simple assault fell 16% while adult female
arrests rose 2%. Therefore, the female
proportion of arrests grew for both types of
assault for adults, as it did for juveniles. The
number of drug abuse violation arrests
declined more for juvenile males (52%) than
females (19%) between 2008 and 2017,
while it declined 6% for adult males and
increased 30% for adult females. Over the
same time, the number of disorderly conduct
arrests of juvenile females fell 63% while it
fell 69% for juvenile males, and adult female
arrests fell 31% while male arrests fell 45%.
Juvenile arrests
disproportionately
involved black youth
The racial composition of the U.S. juvenile
population ages 10–17 in 2017 was
75% white, 16% black, 6% Asian/Pacific
Islander, and 2% American Indian. More than
half (52%) of all juvenile arrests for violent
crimes in 2017 involved black youth,
45% involved white youth, 1% involved
American Indian youth, and 1% involved
Asian youth. For Property Crime Index arrests,
the proportions were 56% white youth,
40% black youth, 2% Asian youth, and
2% American Indian youth. [Not all agencies
provide ethnicity data through the Uniform
Crime Reporting program; therefore, arrest
estimates for juveniles of Hispanic ethnicity
are not available.]
Black proportion of juvenile arrests in
2017
Most serious offense Black proportion
Violent crime*
Murder
Robbery
Aggravated assault
Simple assault
Property Crime Index
Burglary
Larceny-theft
Motor vehicle theft
Vandalism
Weapons
Drug abuse violation
Liquor law violation
52%
61
67
42
39
40
41
39
52
28
44
22
6
*Includes murder, robbery, and aggravated assault.
Data source: Analysis of arrest data from the
Bureau of Justice Statistics and the National Center
for Juvenile Justice. (See data source note on page
13 for details.)
In 2017, juveniles were involved in about 1 in 13 arrests for murder and
about 1 in 5 arrests for robbery and vandalism
Most serious offense
Total
Murder
Robbery
Aggravated assault
Burglary
Larceny-theft
Motor vehicle theft
Arson
Other (simple) assault
Vandalism
Weapon
Drug abuse violation
Liquor law violation
Disorderly conduct
All
8%
7
21
7
15
12
18
25
12
19
11
6
16
18
Juvenile arrests as a percentage of total arrests
Male
Female White
Black
Indian
Asian
7%
8%
7%
10%
7%
7%
8
5
6
9
5
5
22
15
15
25
10
20
6
9
6
5
7
8
17
10
13
21
20
14
13
11
11
17
12
17
19
15
12
30
19
13
25
24
17
18
26
18
10
15
10
14
9
9
21
16
20
19
16
13
11
12
11
11
12
13
6
6
6
5
9
8
14
22
18
7
13
15
16
22
15
24
9
14
Data source: Analysis of arrest data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the National Center for
Juvenile Justice. (See data source note on page 13 for details.)
National Report Series Bulletin
Arrest rates for older juveniles were lower than the rates
for young adults
Age profile of older juveniles and young adults
All offenses
Percent of arrests of persons ages 15−24
100%
90%
36%
36%
39%
80%
70%
60%
50%
36%
37%
37%
40%
Arrests per 100,000 population in age group
20,000
30%
20%
10%
0%
40%
48%
Ages 21−24
37%
4,000
24%
27%
24%
19%
1980
1990
2000
Year
2010
2017
Ages 18−20
0
Ages 15−17
•n As a result of this decline, older juveniles accounted for a smaller share
of arrests of persons ages 15–24 (19%) in 2017 than in 1980 (28%).
Violent crime
Violent crime
Ages 15−17
85
81
85
89
93
97
01
Year
05
09
13
17
•n The overall arrest rate for older juveniles and young adults ages 18–20
followed a similar pattern. Rates peaked in 1996 for both groups, then
declined (71% and 57%, respectively) to reach their lowest level in 2017.
•n Comparatively, the arrest rate for adults ages 21–24 peaked earlier
(1989), then declined at a slower pace, down 47% through 2017.
Property Crime Index
Arrests per 100,000 population in age group
1,000
900
800
Ages 18−20
700
Ages 21−24
600
81
Ages 15−17
8,000
33%
•n The relative decline in the number of arrests was greater for older
juveniles (60%) than adults ages 18–20 (45%) and ages 21–24 (22%)
between 1980 and 2017.
500
400
300
200
100
0
All offenses
12,000
28%
Ages 21−24
Ages 18−20
16,000
89
93
97
01
Year
05
09
13
17
•n Violent crime arrest rates for older juveniles and young adults ages
18–20 followed a similar pattern between 1980 and 2017. Rates
peaked for both age groups in 1994, then fell considerably (69%
and 59%, respectively) through 2017.
•n Comparatively, the violent crime arrest rate for adults ages 21–24
peaked in 1992, then declined 47% through 2017.
Arrests per 100,000 population in age group
4,500
Property Crime Index
4,000
3,500
Ages 15−17
3,000
2,500
Ages 18−20
2,000
1,500
Ages 21−24
1,000
500
0
81
85
89
93
97
01
05
09
13
17
Year
•n Despite a brief interruption in the mid-2000s, Property Crime Index arrest
rates declined steadily for older juveniles and young adults since the
mid-1990s. In the last 10 years, rates declined 60% for older juveniles,
51% for young adults ages 18–20, and 32% for young adults ages
21–24; by 2017, Property Crime Index arrest rates for each age group
were at or below their lowest level since at least 1980.
•n The 2017 violent crime arrest rate for juveniles ages 15–17 was
about 35% below the rates for young adults.
Data source: Analysis of arrest data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the National Center for Juvenile Justice and population data from the U.S. Census Bureau and
the National Center for Health Statistics. (See data source note on page 13 for details.)
August 2019 ­9
The female share of juvenile arrests increased between
1980 and 2017
All offenses
Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17
14,000
All offenses
12,000
Male
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
Female
2,000
0
81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17
Year
Percent of youth arrests involving females
50%
40%
30%
All offenses
20%
10%
0%
81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17
Year
Larceny-theft
Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17
2,500
Larceny-theft
2,000
Male
1,500
Percent of youth arrests involving females
50%
1,000
20%
Female
500
0
40%
30%
Larceny-theft
10%
81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17
Year
0%
81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17
Year
Simple assault
Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17
1,200
Percent of youth arrests involving females
50%
1,000
40%
Simple assault
Male
800
30%
600
400
Female
200
0
Simple assault
20%
81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17
10%
0%
81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17
Year
Year
Disorderly conduct
Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17
1,200
Disorderly conduct
1,000
800
600
400
200
0
Percent of youth arrests involving females
50%
•n The overall juvenile arrest rate declined in
recent years and the relative decline was
greater for males than for females. Since
2006, for example, the male arrest rate fell
61%, compared with 58% for females.
•n The number of arrests of females increased
more than males through the mid-1990s,
and then decreased less through 2017. As a
result, the female share of juvenile arrests
has increased, from 18% in 1980 to 29%
in 2017.
•n Larceny-theft arrest rate trends were
marked by two periods of substantial
decline. From the mid-1990s through the
mid-2000s, the decline in the male rate
outpaced that of females (57% vs. 33%). In
the more recent 10-year period, the female
rate declined 68%, compared with 58%
for males.
•n The net result was that the female share of
juvenile larceny-theft arrests increased from
26% in 1980 to 45% in 2009, then fell to
37% by 2017.
•n Juvenile arrest rate trends for simple assault
followed a similar pattern for males and
females, but the female rate increased more
and declined less than the male rate
between 1980 and 2017.
•n The female proportion of juvenile simple
assault arrests grew from 21% in 1980 to
37% in 2017.
•n Across genders, the disorderly conduct arrest
rate declined in recent years and the relative
decline was greater for males than for
females. Since 2006, the male arrest rate
fell 71%, compared with 66% for females.
•n Similar to the pattern for simple assault, the
female share of disorderly conduct arrests
increased steadily and reached 36% in 2017.
40%
30%
Male
20%
Female
81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17
Year
Disorderly conduct
10%
0%
81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17
Year
Data source: Analysis of arrest data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the National Center for Juvenile Justice and population data from the U.S. Census Bureau and
the National Center for Health Statistics. (See data source note on page 13 for details.)
­10
National Report Series Bulletin
Arrest rates for murder and robbery were much higher
for black youth than youth of other races
Murder
Robbery
Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17
60
50
Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17
800
Murder
Black
600
40
Black
500
30
400
300
20
200
White
10
0
Robbery
700
81
85
89
American Indian
Asian
93
97
01
Year
05
100
09
13
17
0
White
Asian
81
85
89
American Indian
93
97
01
Year
05
09
13
17
•n The murder arrest rate for white juveniles reached a historic low in
2013, 82% below its 1994 peak, while the rate for black juveniles
reached its low point 1 year earlier in 2012, 87% below its 1993 peak.
Since their respective low points, rates for both increased through 2017:
47% for black juveniles and 22% for white juveniles.
•n Juvenile robbery arrest rates reached a historic low in 2013 for white,
American Indian, and Asian youth, while the rate for black youth reached
its low point in 2015. From their low points to 2017, rates have
increased: 18% for white youth, 11% for American Indian youth, 36%
for Asian youth, and 1% for black youth.
•n The disparity in black-to-white juvenile murder arrest rates reached
a peak in 1993, when the black rate was nearly nine times the
white rate. This ratio declined during the late 1990s and early
2000s, falling to about 5 to 1. The black rate was more than seven
times the white rate in 2017.
•n Similar to murder, the black arrest rate for robbery was higher than the
rate for whites, but the difference in rates was far greater for robbery
than for murder. In 2017, for example, the robbery arrest rate for black
juveniles was nearly 10 times the white rate.
Drug abuse violation
Liquor law violation
Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17
1,600
1,400
Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17
1,200
Drug abuse violation
1,000
Black
1,200
American Indian
800
1,000
600
800
600
White
200
81
85
89
93
White
400
400
0
Liquor law violation
American Indian
Asian
97
01
05
Year
Black
200
09
13
17
•n In the last 10 years, the drug arrest rate declined 55% for black
youth, 43% for white youth, and 28% for Asian youth, but increased
13% for American Indian youth.
•n The black-to-white ratio in the drug abuse violation arrest rate has
narrowed in recent years, largely influenced by the considerable
decline in the black arrest rate since the mid-1990s (75% vs. 50%
for the white arrest rate). The ratio peaked in 1991, at nearly 6 to 1;
by 2017, the black arrest rate was 1.4 times the white rate.
0
81
85
89
93
Asian
97
01
Year
05
09
13
17
•n The liquor law arrest rate declined for all race groups in the last 10
years: 74% for whites, 73% for Asians, 71% for American Indians, and
55% for blacks. By 2017, the rate reached its lowest level since at
least 1980 for all but American Indian juveniles.
•n Liquor law violations are one of the few offenses for which rates are
higher for American Indian juveniles than for other race groups. The
American Indian rate in 2017 was twice the white rate, nearly 8 times
the rate for black youth, and 11 times the rate for Asian youth.
Data source: Analysis of arrest data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the National Center for Juvenile Justice and population data from the U.S. Census Bureau and
the National Center for Health Statistics. (See data source note on page 13 for details.)
August 2019 ­11
Many factors can influence state variations in juvenile
arrest rates
Although state data are available from the Uniform Crime Reporting program, comparisons should be made with
caution because of variations in jurisdictional standards and reporting
State
U.S. total
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
Arrests of juveniles under age 18 per
2017
100,000 juveniles ages 10–17, 2017
reporting
Drug
population Aggravated Larcenytheft
abuse Weapons
coverage assault
State
Arrests of juveniles under age 18 per
2017
100,000 juveniles ages 10–17, 2017
reporting
population Aggravated LarcenyDrug
coverage assault
theft
abuse Weapons
84%
77
100
91
86
51
149
102
527
329
586
666
283
51
230
455
54
27
27
38
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
92%
99
12
89
85
86
98
199
656
874
325
421
392
382
341
269
48
17
16
62
92
101
533
299
43
New Hampshire
96
41
309
420
4
California
Colorado
Connecticut
100
91
99
94
89
59
264
751
522
93
501
164
76
62
51
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
95
39
51
63
168
72
313
250
515
408
112
354
65
16
35
Delaware
100
195
712
361
88
North Carolina
63
65
651
228
82
District of Columbia
Florida
0
100
NA
103
NA
827
NA
288
NA
45
North Dakota
Ohio
99
80
68
45
910
437
663
205
40
34
79
79
567
233
45
Oklahoma
96
73
502
311
35
100
89
22
64
85
65
97
80
100
91
95
98
96
46
48
64
65
121
109
66
30
192
26
155
97
66
80
33
463
684
873
591
924
328
319
1,173
651
819
194
422
886
548
338
532
284
302
320
336
120
347
292
354
35
213
337
187
10
52
233
45
46
26
21
101
5
109
28
29
77
55
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
90
98
89
78
84
97
92
85
96
92
90
63
98
94
59
143
63
81
140
144
60
49
68
39
71
39
89
46
514
484
432
734
1,040
663
410
680
257
459
412
151
1,052
789
504
293
129
532
1,258
391
331
482
92
286
187
112
550
881
30
71
122
111
95
62
28
38
19
41
34
13
89
54
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
NA = Arrest counts were not available for the District of Columbia in the FBI’s Crime in the United States, 2017.
Notes: Arrest rates for jurisdictions with less than complete reporting may not be representative of the entire state. Although juvenile arrest rates may largely reflect juvenile
behavior, many other factors can affect the magnitude of these rates. Arrest rates are calculated by dividing the number of youth arrests made in the year by the number of youth
living in the jurisdiction. Therefore, jurisdictions that arrest a relatively large number of nonresident juveniles would have a higher arrest rate than jurisdictions where resident
youth behave similarly. Jurisdictions (especially small ones) that are vacation destinations or that are centers for economic activity in a region may have arrest rates that reflect
the behavior of nonresident youth more than that of resident youth. Other factors that influence arrest rates in a given area include the attitudes of citizens toward crime, the
policies of local law enforcement agencies, and the policies of other components of the justice system. In many areas, not all law enforcement agencies report their arrest data
to the FBI. Rates for such areas are necessarily based on partial information and may not be accurate. Comparisons of juvenile arrest rates across jurisdictions can be
informative. Because of factors noted, however, comparisons should be made with caution.
Data source: Analysis of arrest data from Crime in the United States, 2017 (Washington, DC: Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2018) tables 3 and 22, and population data from the
National Center for Health Statistics’ Vintage 2017 Postcensal Estimates of the Resident Population of the United States (April 1, 2010, July 1, 2010–July 1, 2017), by Year, County,
Single–Year of Age (0, 1, 2, . . . , 85 Years and Over), Bridged Race, Hispanic Origin, and Sex [machine-readable data files available online at
www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/bridged_race.htm, as of June 27, 2018].
­12
National Report Series Bulletin
Notes
Data source
The Bureau of Justice Statistics developed
arrest estimates for 1980–2014 using the
Arrest Data Analysis Tool [available online at
www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=datool&surl=/
arrests/index.cfm, retrieved September 29,
2017]; the National Center for Juvenile Justice
developed arrest estimates for 2015–2017
based on data published in the FBI’s Crime in
the United States reports for the respective
years; population data for 1980–1989 are
from the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Population
Estimates by Age, Sex, Race, and Hispanic
Origin: 1980 to 1999 [machine-readable data
files available online, released April 11, 2000];
population data for 1990–1999 are from the
National Center for Health Statistics (prepared
by the U.S. Census Bureau with support from
the National Cancer Institute), Bridged-Race
Intercensal Estimates of the July 1, 1990–July
1, 1999, United States Resident Population by
County, Single-Year of Age, Sex, Race, and
Hispanic Origin [machine-readable data files
available online at www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/
bridged_race.htm, released July 26, 2004];
population data for 2000–2009 are from the
National Center for Health Statistics (prepared
under a collaborative arrangement with the
U.S. Census Bureau), Intercensal Estimates of
the Resident Population of the United States
for July 1, 2000–July 1, 2009, by Year, County,
Single-Year of Age (0, 1, 2, . . . , 85 Years and
Over), Bridged Race, Hispanic Origin, and Sex
[machine-readable data files available online
at www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/bridged_race.htm,
as of October 26, 2012, following release by
the U.S. Census Bureau of the revised
unbridged intercensal estimates by 5-year
age group on October 9, 2012]; and
population data for 2010–2017 are from the
National Center for Health Statistics (prepared
under a collaborative arrangement with the
U.S. Census Bureau), Vintage 2017 Postcensal
Estimates of the Resident Population of the
United States (April 1, 2010, July 1, 2010–
July 1, 2017), by Year, County, Single-Year of
Age (0, 1, 2, . . . , 85 Years and Over), Bridged
Race, Hispanic Origin, and Sex [machinereadable data files available online at
www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/bridged_race.htm,
as of June 27, 2018, following release by the
U.S. Census Bureau of the unbridged vintage
2017 postcensal estimates by 5-year age
group, retrieved on June 29, 2018].
provide arrest counts of persons younger
than age 18 but not provide the age detail
required to support other subpopulation
estimates.
Data coverage
Since 1927, forcible rape was defined by the
FBI as “the carnal knowledge of a female,
forcibly and against her will.” Beginning in
2013, the FBI adopted a broader definition of
rape: “Penetration, no matter how slight, of
the vagina or anus with any body part or
object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of
another person, without the consent of the
victim.” Unlike the definition in place for more
than 80 years, the new definition does not
require force and is gender neutral.
FBI arrest data in this bulletin are counts of
arrests detailed by age of arrestee and
offense categories from all law enforcement
agencies that reported complete data for the
calendar year. (See Crime in the United
States, 2017 for offense definitions.) The
proportion of the U.S. population covered by
these reporting agencies ranged from 72% to
86% between 1980 and 2017, with 2017
coverage of 78%.
Estimates of the number of persons in each
age group in the reporting agencies’ resident
populations assume that the resident
population age profiles are like the nation’s.
Reporting agencies’ total populations were
multiplied by the U.S. Census Bureau’s most
current estimate of the proportion of the U.S.
population for each age group.
The reporting coverage for the total United
States (84%) in the table on page 12 includes
all states reporting arrests of persons
younger than age 18. This is greater than the
coverage in the rest of the bulletin (78%) for
various reasons. For example, a state may
Changes in the definition
of rape in the FBI data
Under current reporting practices, law
enforcement agencies may submit data on
rape arrests based on either the new
definition or the legacy definition. Due to
differences in agency reporting practices,
national estimates for the offenses of “rape”
and “sex offenses” are not available after
2012. Additionally, estimates for the Violent
Crime Index (which included “forcible rape”)
are not shown as this category is no longer
compatible with prior years. More information
about these changes can be found on the
FBI’s website [https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-inthe-u.s/2013/crime-in-the-u.s.-2013/rapeaddendum/rape_addendum_final].
Visit OJJDP’s Statistical Briefing Book for more
information on juvenile arrests
OJJDP’s online Statistical Briefing Book (SBB) offers access to a wealth of information about
juvenile crime and victimization and about youth involved in the juvenile justice system. Visit
the “Law Enforcement and Juvenile Crime” section of the SBB at ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/crime/
faqs.asp for more information about juvenile arrest rates. The SBB contains FAQs about
juvenile arrests, displays arrest rate trends detailed by offense and youth demographics,
and offers users access to national arrest data that support customizable annual and trend
displays by offense and youth demographics.
August 2019 ­13
U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
8660 Cherry Lane
Laurel, MD 20707-4651
*NCJ~252713*
PRESORTED STANDARD
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National Report Series Bulletin
Acknowledgments
This bulletin was written by Charles
Puzzanchera, Senior Research Associate
at the National Center for Juvenile
Justice, with funds provided by OJJDP to
support the National Juvenile Justice
Data Analysis Project.
This bulletin was prepared under grant number
2016–JF–FX–K001 from the Office of Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP),
U.S. Department of Justice.
To ensure the efficiency and coordination of all
Office of Justice Programs research activities, the
juvenile justice research, evaluation, and statistical
data collection projects funded by OJJDP are
managed by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ).
Points of view or opinions expressed in this
document are those of the author and do not
necessarily represent the official position or
policies of NIJ, OJJDP, or the U.S. Department
of Justice.
NCJ 252713
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention is a component of the Office of Justice
Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice
Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the
National Institute of Justice; the Office for Victims of
Crime; and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing,
Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and
Tracking.
1. Describe the overall trend in arrest rate for juvenile crime (total arrests).
2. Why do you think it would be important to know how the arrests are
measured/counted? Describe how the UCR counts the number of offenses in a given
year.
3. How is property crime defined? Describe the trend in juvenile property crime.
4. Describe the trend for juvenile murder, robbery, and aggravated assault. Is this what
you expected it to be? Why, or why not?
5. Although males accounted for the majority (71%) of arrests, the female arrest rate for
certain offenses was high. Which offenses are listed as being high for female arrest,
according to the OJJDP Bulletin?
6. Why might the note on changes in definition be important?

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