Juvenile proportion of arrests by offense, 2009

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Working for Youth Justice and Safety

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Juvenile Arrests

Q:	What proportion of arrests involve persons under age 18?
A:	Juveniles were involved in 1 in 11 arrests for murder in 2009, 1 in 5 arrests for a weapons violation, and about 1 in 4 arrests for robbery, burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft.

Juvenile proportion of arrests by offense, 2009

Note: The Violent Crime Index includes the offenses of murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. The Property Crime Index includes the offenses of burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. Running away from home and curfew and loitering violations are not presented in this figure because, by definition, only juveniles can be arrested for these offenses.

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One-fourth (25%) of all persons arrested for robbery in 2009 were under age 18, substantially above the juvenile proportion of arrests in other violent offenses: forcible rape (15%), aggravated assault (12%), and murder (9%).

Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: http://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/crime/qa05102.asp?qaDate=2009. Released on October 16, 2011.

Adapted from Puzzanchera, C. and Adams, B. (2011). Juvenile Arrests 2009. Washington, D.C.: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

Data Source: Arrest estimates developed by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and disseminated through “Arrest Data Analysis Tool.” Online. Available from the BJS website.