Juvenile Crime Stats 2011

Statistical data on juvenile offenders National arrest statistics may provide a wealth of information regarding trends and rates of juvenile crime, but it should be noted that many incidents will go unreported. It is also important to note that this national statistical reporting lags in terms of time; for example, as of early 2011, only juvenile crime and arrest data as recently as 2008 is available. However, the 2008 data reports a 3% decline in juvenile arrests as well as a 2% drop in reported juvenile violent crimes between 2007 and 2008, along with a 5% reduction in reported juvenile violent crimes since 2006. These data points offer an encouraging trend that juvenile crime is on a gradual decline. Below is a breakdown of the 2008 juvenile crimes statistical data, as a percentage of all crimes within a given category:

16% of all violent crime arrests, 12% of all cleared; 26% of all property crime arrests, 18% of all cleared; 11% (1,740) of all murder victims were juveniles, with more than a third (38%) under the age of 5 years; A juvenile murder arrest rate of 3.8 arrests per 100,000 juveniles ages 10 through 17 a 17% increase than the 2004 low of 3.3, but 74% less than the 1993 peak of 14.4; Juvenile arrests for aggravated assault decreased more for males than for females (22% vs. 17%) between the years 1999 and 2008 a time period during which juvenile male arrests for simple assault dropped 6% and female arrests rose12%; African American youth were involved in 52% of juvenile Violent Crime Index arrests and 33% of juvenile Property Crime Index arrests, yet made up only 16% of the youth population aged 1017 years; and arrest rates for those arrests falling under the Violent Crime Index in 2008 were significantly lower than the rates in the 1994 peak year for every age group under 40. (Source: Charles Puzzanchera, Juvenile Arrests 2008, OJJDP and FBI URC). Regardless of the data listed above, it is worth noting that, in 2008, U.S. law enforcement agencies across the country arrested an estimated 2.11 million individuals under the age of 18 years. Overall, the current statistical data shows an indication that there is still much work left to do with regards to juvenile delinquents and troubled teens. Furthermore, this statistical data has resulted in the ongoing approaches of both proactive, preventative measures in the form of at-risk youth intervention and ongoing reform. These measures may just be working, given the overall steady decline.