Juvenile Statistics

Juvenile Statistic Paper

Throughout this paper we are going to look juvenile arrest statistics. First we are going to look at the overall decrease in juvenile arrests. Next we are going to cover the increase in drug offenses and simple assaults. Then we are going to look at what the implications are for female and minority juveniles. Last yet importantly we are going to access how tracking juvenile arrest helps measure the amount of and trends in juvenile crimes. So let us get started we have a lot to cover.

Overall Decrease in Juvenile Arrest

In 2008 juvenile crime was down 3% from 2007. Local law enforcement agencies report to the FBI and the FBI takes this information and form statistics out of it. For example if you look at the years 2006-2008. The FBI assesses trends in violent crimes by monitoring four offenses that law enforcement agencies nationwide consistently report. These four crimes—murder and non negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault— form the Violent Crime Index.

Following 10 years of declines between 1994 and 2004, juvenile arrests for Violent Crime Index offenses increased from 2004 to 2006, then declined in each of the next 2 years. Given that the number of arrests in 2004 was less than in any year since 1987, the number of juvenile Violent Crime Index arrests in 2008 was still relatively low (Puzzanchera, C, 2009).

Increase in Drug Offenses and Simple Assaults

In 2008 there were 180,100 juveniles arrested due to drugs which was a 7% decrease since 1999 while adults had a 15% increase. When looking at the provided graphs you can clearly see that male juveniles commit simple assaults than female do. The juvenile female arrest rate for aggravated assault did not decline after its 1990s peak as much as did the male rate. As a result, in 2008, the juvenile male arrest rate was just 4% more than its 1980 level, while the female rate was 80% more than its 1980 rate. Similarly, while the male arrest rate for simple assault nearly doubled between