Juvenile homicide victims by sex, 1980-2010

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

Printer-friendly

Violent Crime Victimization

Q:	Does juvenile homicide victimization vary by sex?
A:	Males account for the largest share of juvenile homicide victims, but the female proportion has grown since the mid 1990s.

Juvenile homicide victims by sex, 1980-2010

[ Text only ] [ Excel file ]

In 2010, females accounted for 30% of all juvenile murder victims, down from 36% in 2002.
The large increase in juvenile homicides between 1984 and 1993 (up 94%) and the subsequent decline through 2002 (down 45%) were nearly all attributable to changes in homicides of male juveniles. Males accounted for 85% of the growth in juvenile homicide victims between 1984 and 1993 and 82% of the decline between 1993 and 2002.
The number of juvenile females murdered declined between 2002 and 2006 (down 16%). Despite an increase between 2006-2007, the number of juvenile female murder victims in 2010 was at its lowest level of the 31-year period. Unlike the number of female victims, the annual number of juvenile males murdered increased 30% between 2002 and 2006, then declined 23% through 2010.

Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: http://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/victims/qa02312.asp?qaDate=2010. Released on July 31, 2012.

Adapted from Puzzanchera, C. and Kang, W. (2012). Easy Access to the FBI's Supplementary Homicide Reports: 1980-2010. Available on-line at: http://ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/ezashr/.

Data Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation. Supplementary Homicide Reports for the years 1980–2010 [machine-readable data files]. Washington, D.C.: FBI.