U.S. Department of Justice, Office Of Justice Programs, Innovation - Partnerships - Safer Neighborhoods
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Working for Youth Justice and Safety
OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book logo jump over products navigation bar
OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book logoAbout SSBFrequently Asked QuestionsPublicationsData Analysis ToolsNational Data SetsOther ResourcesAsk a Question

Juvenile Population Characteristics
Juveniles as Victims
Juveniles as Offenders
Juvenile Justice System Structure & Process
Law Enforcement & Juvenile Crime
Juveniles in Court
Juveniles on Probation
Juveniles in Corrections
Juvenile Reentry & Aftercare
Statistical Briefing Book Home

OJJDP logo

Printer-priendlyPrinter-friendly
Juveniles in Court
Juvenile Court Cases
Q: How many delinquency cases are handled by juvenile courts?
A: In 2010 courts with juvenile jurisdiction disposed nearly 1.4 million delinquency cases.

Estimated number of delinquency cases, 2010

Most serious offense
Number
of cases
Percent change
1985-2010 2001-2010 2006-2010 2009-2010
Total Delinquency
1,368,200
17%
-19%
-19%
-8%
Person Offenses
346,800
87
-15
-20
-5
Violent Crime Index*
71,000
10
-9
-15
-8
Criminal homicide
1,000
-18
-23
-25
-20
Forcible rape
3,900
17
-15
-16
-3
Robbery
26,300
4
22
1
-10
Aggravated assault
39,900
16
-21
-24
-6
Simple assault
237,100
133
-17
-21
-4
Other violent sex offenses
12,700
54
-2
-19
-1
Other person offenses
26,000
141
-19
-27
-7
Property Offenses
502,400
-29
-24
-18
-11
Property Crime Index**
355,500
-32
-23
-15
-10
Burglary
90,100
-38
-21
-12
-8
Larceny-theft
243,800
-27
-19
-11
-11
Motor vehicle theft
16,100
-58
-58
-49
-16
Arson
5,500
-18
-41
-34
-18
Vandalism
79,400
-8
-19
-23
-14
Trespassing
42,500
-21
-21
-20
-10
Stolen property offenses
14,000
-50
-42
-29
-10
Other property offenses
11,100
-39
-55
-44
-15
Drug Law Violations
164,100
111
-15
-12
-1
Public Order Offenses
354,800
80
-16
-21
-9
Obstruction of justice
166,200
150
-20
-16
-9
Disorderly conduct
101,200
124
-6
-24
-8
Weapons offenses
29,700
48
-12
-31
-9
Liquor law violations
16,400
-16
3
-8
-5
Nonviolent sex offenses
11,200
-12
-21
-15
0
Other public order offenses
30,000
-8
-26
-29
-12
* Includes criminal homicide, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.
** Includes burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson.

Note: Detail may not add to totals because of rounding. Percent-change calculations are based on unrounded numbers.

[ Excel file ]

  • Delinquency offenses are acts committed by juveniles that would be crimes if committed by adults.
  • The overall juvenile court delinquency caseload was less in 2010 than any year since 1990 but still 17% greater than the 1985 caseload.
Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: http://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/court/qa06201.asp?qaDate=2010. Released on April 17, 2013.

Adapted from Juvenile Court Statistics 2010 (forthcoming). Pittsburgh, PA: National Center for Juvenile Justice.

Data Source: National Juvenile Court Data Archive. National Center for Juvenile Justice. Pittsburgh, PA.

 

USA.gov | Privacy | Policies & Disclaimers | FOIA | Site Map | Ask a Question | OJJDP Home
A component of the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice