U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Justice Programs

JUVENILE JUSTICE

STATISTICS

NATIONAL REPORT SERIES BULLETIN

Caren Harp, OJJDP Administrator • David B. Muhlhausen, NIJ Director August 2019

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 

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.

n The violent crime arrest rate for older 

juveniles (ages 15 to 17) was lower than the 

rates for young adults (ages 18 to 20 and 21 

to 24).

n Male and female juvenile arrest rates have 

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.

ojjdp.gov nij.gov

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

•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.)

81 84 87 90 93 96 99 02 05 08 11 14 17

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1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

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3,000,000

Year

Number of arrests, youth ages 0–17

Total arrests
2 National Report Series Bulletin

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. 

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, 

The FBI’s UCR program provides 

data about juvenile arrests

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.

Caren Harp

OJJDP Administrator 

David B. Muhlhausen, Ph.D.

NIJ Director

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. 

* 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.
August 2019 3

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

2017 estimated number Younger 

Most serious offense of juvenile arrests Female than 15 White 2008–2017 2013–2017 2016–2017

Total 809,700 29% 28% 62% –59% –25% –5%

Violent Crime* 48,470 20 27 45 –48 –5 1

Murder and nonnegligent 910 8 9 38 –27 23 7 manslaughter

Rape* NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

Robbery 19,330 10 19 32 –45 1 1

Aggravated assault 28,220 26 33 54 –49 –9 1

Property Crime Index 168,050 30 29 56 –61 –31 –9

Burglary 30,850 12 31 56 –63 –28 –4

Larceny-theft 118,660 37 28 57 –63 –36 –12

Motor vehicle theft 16,300 18 24 45 –34 40 4

Arson 2,240 14 57 73 –65 –39 –12

Nonindex

Other (simple) assault 123,040 37 39 58 –47 –16 –5

Forgery and counterfeiting 1,220 22 14 58 –53 16 1

Fraud 4,760 33 20 46 –34 6 3

Embezzlement 640 43 8 55 –49 60 –6

Stolen property (buying, 10,500 16 21 41 –49 1 –4 receiving, possessing)

Vandalism 36,720 18 40 69 –66 –21 –6

Weapons (carrying, possessing, etc.) 18,370 10 29 54 –54 –10 –5

Prostitution and commercialized vice 280 61 14 45 –81 –63 –44

Sex offense (except rape and NA NA NA NA NA NA NA prostitution)*

Drug abuse violation 94,830 24 15 74 –47 –19 –4

Gambling 270 18 13 21 –83 –62 7

Offenses against the family 3,770 37 34 58 –35 35 9 and children

Driving under the influence 6,080 25 2 89 –62 –20 –6

Liquor law violation 33,560 41 12 87 –74 –43 –9

Drunkenness 4,300 30 13 78 –72 –41 –10

Disorderly conduct 62,530 36 39 54 –67 –34 –5

Vagrancy 730 22 26 53 –82 –16 –6

All other offenses (except traffic) 149,050 28 25 66 –59 –24 –4

Curfew and loitering 30,130 30 29 56 –77 –47 –12

Percent of total juvenile arrests Percent change

•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.)
4 National Report Series Bulletin

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 

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.

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. 

*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.

Percent change in juvenile arrests 

2008–2017

Most serious offense Juvenile Adult

Violent crime* –48% –7%

Murder –27 –3

Robbery –45 –21

Aggravated assault –49 –4

Property Crime Index –61 –14

Burglary –63 –25

Larceny-theft –63 –12

Motor vehicle theft –34 2

Simple assault –47 –12

Weapons law violations –54 5

Drug abuse violations –47 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.)

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%). 

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 

•n	Juvenile arrests for violent crimes reached a historic low in 2015, and 

increased slightly (1%) through 2017.

•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.)

81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17

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Violent crime

81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17

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Number of arrests, youth ages 0–17

Property Crime Index
August 2019 5

Juvenile arrest rates for murder, robbery, and aggravated 

assault were at or near historic lows

•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.

Simple assault rate

•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%). 

Aggravated assault rate

Murder rate

•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.

Robbery rate

•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.

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.)

81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17

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4

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8

10

12

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Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17

Murder

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40

80

120

160

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Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17

Robbery

81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17

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50

100

150

200

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300

Year

Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17

Aggravated assault

81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17

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100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

Year

Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17

Simple assault
6 National Report Series Bulletin

Juvenile arrest rates for burglary, larceny-theft, and 

arson reached historic lows in 2017

•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.

Arson rate

•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.

Motor vehicle theft rate

Burglary rate

•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.

Larceny-theft rate

•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. 

•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.

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.)

81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17

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Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17

Motor vehicle theft

81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17

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5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Year

Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17

Arson

81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17

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100

200

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400

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600

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800

Year

Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17

Burglary

81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17

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200

400

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800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1,800

Year

Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17

Larceny-theft
August 2019 7

In 2017, juvenile arrest rates for weapons and vandalism 

were at their lowest levels

•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	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. 

Violent crime age rate

•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	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.

Vandalism rate

Weapons law violation rate

•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%.

Drug abuse violation rate

•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%.

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.)

81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17

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Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17

Weapons

81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17

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Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17

Drug abuse violation

81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17

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Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17

Vandalism

0

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400

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10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65

Age

1980

1994

2017

Violent crime offenses

Arrests per 100,000 population in age group
8 National Report Series Bulletin

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).

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 

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.]

Percent change in juvenile arrests 

2008–2017

Most serious offense Female Male

Violent crime* –42% –49%

Robbery –38 –46

Aggravated assault –43 –51

Simple assault –42 –50

Property Crime Index –67 –58

Burglary –64 –63

Larceny-theft –69 –59

Motor vehicle theft –22 –37

Vandalism –54 –67

Weapons –50 –54

Drug abuse violation –19 –52

Driving under influence –62 –62

Liquor law violation –72 –75

Disorderly conduct –63 –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.)

Black proportion of juvenile arrests in 

2017

Most serious offense Black proportion

Violent crime* 52%

Murder 61

Robbery 67

Aggravated assault 42

Simple assault 39

Property Crime Index 40

Burglary 41

Larceny-theft 39

Motor vehicle theft 52

Vandalism 28

Weapons 44

Drug abuse violation 22

Liquor law violation 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

Juvenile arrests as a percentage of total arrests

Most serious offense All Male Female White Black Indian Asian

Total 8% 7% 8% 7% 10% 7% 7%

Murder 7 8 5 6 9 5 5

Robbery 21 22 15 15 25 10 20

Aggravated assault 7 7 8 6 9 6 5

Burglary 15 17 10 13 21 20 14

Larceny-theft 12 13 11 11 17 12 17

Motor vehicle theft 18 19 15 12 30 19 13

Arson 25 26 18 25 24 17 18

Other (simple) assault 12 10 15 10 14 9 9

Vandalism 19 21 16 20 19 16 13

Weapon 11 11 12 11 11 12 13

Drug abuse violation 6 6 6 6 5 9 8

Liquor law violation 16 14 22 18 7 13 15

Disorderly conduct 18 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.)
August 2019 9

Arrest rates for older juveniles were lower than the rates 

for young adults

•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. 

Property Crime Index

•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. 

•n	The 2017 violent crime arrest rate for juveniles ages 15–17 was 

about 35% below the rates for young adults.

Violent crime

Age profile of older juveniles and young adults

•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. 

•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%).

All offenses

•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.

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.)

1980 0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

28%

36%

36%

24%

37%

39%

27%

37%

36%

24%

37%

40%

19%

33%

48%

Ages 21−24 Ages 18−20 Ages 15−17

Percent of arrests of persons ages 15−24

Year

1990 2000 2010 2017 81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17

0

4,000

8,000

12,000

16,000

20,000

Year

Arrests per 100,000 population in age group

All offenses

Ages 15−17

Ages 18−20

Ages 21−24

81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1,000

Year

Arrests per 100,000 population in age group

Violent crime

Ages 15−17

Ages 18−20

Ages 21−24

81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

4,500

Year

Arrests per 100,000 population in age group

Property Crime Index

Ages 15−17

Ages 18−20

Ages 21−24
10 National Report Series Bulletin

The female share of juvenile arrests increased between 

1980 and 2017

All offenses

•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.

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.)

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000 All offenses

Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17

Male

Female

Year

81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

All offenses

Percent of youth arrests involving females

Year

81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17

Larceny-theft

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

Larceny-theft

Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17

Male

Female

Year

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Larceny-theft

Percent of youth arrests involving females

Year 81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17 81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17

Simple assault

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200 Simple assault

Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17

Male

Female

Year

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Simple assault

Percent of youth arrests involving females

Year 81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17 81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17

Disorderly conduct

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200 Disorderly conduct

Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17

Male

Female

Year

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Disorderly conduct

Percent of youth arrests involving females

Year 81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17 81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17
August 2019 11

Arrest rates for murder and robbery were much higher 

for black youth than youth of other races

•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.

 Liquor law violation

•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.

Drug abuse violation

Murder

•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	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.

Robbery

•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	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.

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.)

81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Year

Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17

Murder

Black

White American Indian

Asian

81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

Year

Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17

Robbery

Black

Asian White American Indian

81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

Year

Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17

Drug abuse violation

Black

White

American Indian

Asian

81 85 89 93 97 01 05 09 13 17 0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

Year

Arrests per 100,000 youth ages 10−17

Liquor law violation

Black

White

American Indian

Asian
12 National Report Series Bulletin

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

Arrests of juveniles under age 18 per Arrests of juveniles under age 18 per 2017 2017 

100,000 juveniles ages 10–17, 2017 100,000 juveniles ages 10–17, 2017 reporting reporting 

population Aggravated Larceny- Drug population Aggravated Larceny- Drug 

State coverage assault theft abuse Weapons State coverage assault theft abuse Weapons

U.S. total 84% 86 527 283 54 Missouri 92% 85 656 392 48

Alabama 77 51 329 51 27 Montana 99 86 874 382 17

Alaska 100 149 586 230 27 Nebraska 12 98 325 341 16

Arizona 91 102 666 455 38 Nevada 89 199 421 269 62

Arkansas 92 101 533 299 43 New Hampshire 96 41 309 420 4

California 100 94 264 93 76 New Jersey 95 63 313 408 65

Colorado 91 89 751 501 62 New Mexico 39 168 250 112 16

Connecticut 99 59 522 164 51 New York 51 72 515 354 35

Delaware 100 195 712 361 88 North Carolina 63 65 651 228 82

District of Columbia 0 NA NA NA NA North Dakota 99 68 910 663 40

Florida 100 103 827 288 45 Ohio 80 45 437 205 34

Georgia 79 79 567 233 45 Oklahoma 96 73 502 311 35

Hawaii 100 48 463 338 10 Oregon 90 59 514 504 30

Idaho 89 64 684 532 52 Pennsylvania 98 143 484 293 71

Illinois 22 65 873 284 233 Rhode Island 89 63 432 129 122

Indiana 64 121 591 302 45 South Carolina 78 81 734 532 111

Iowa 85 109 924 320 46 South Dakota 84 140 1,040 1,258 95

Kansas 65 66 328 336 26 Tennessee 97 144 663 391 62

Kentucky 97 30 319 120 21 Texas 92 60 410 331 28

Louisiana 80 192 1,173 347 101 Utah 85 49 680 482 38

Maine 100 26 651 292 5 Vermont 96 68 257 92 19

Maryland 91 155 819 354 109 Virginia 92 39 459 286 41

Massachusetts 95 97 194 35 28 Washington 90 71 412 187 34

Michigan 98 66 422 213 29 West Virginia 63 39 151 112 13

Minnesota 96 80 886 337 77 Wisconsin 98 89 1,052 550 89

Mississippi 46 33 548 187 55 Wyoming 94 46 789 881 54

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].
August 2019 13

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].

Data coverage

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 

provide arrest counts of persons younger 

than age 18 but not provide the age detail 

required to support other subpopulation 

estimates.

Changes in the definition 

of rape in the FBI data

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. 

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.


National Report Series Bulletin NCJ 252713

U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Justice Programs

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

8660 Cherry Lane

Laurel, MD 20707-4651

Official Business

Penalty for Private Use $300

PRESORTED STANDARD

POSTAGE & FEES PAID

DOJ/OJJDP/GPO

PERMIT NO. G – 26

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.

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.

*NCJ~252713*