In America, the incarceration rate for juveniles has been on the decline in recent years. According to the most recent data from the Department of Justice, the juvenile incarceration rate was down to 872 per 100,000 youths in 2015. However, this still works out to nearly one in every 1,000 juveniles being incarcerated.  There are a number of factors that can contribute to why a juvenile might be incarcerated. In many cases, it can be due to socio-economic factors such as poverty or poor educational opportunities. Additionally, juveniles may be more likely to engage in criminal activity if they have been exposed to violence or have a history of substance use.