Arrests of Juveniles in 2018 Reached Lowest Level in Nearly 4 Decades

• NCJ Number: 254488
• Author(s): Charles Puzzanchera
• Date Published: December 2019
• Length: 1 page
• Grant Number(s): 2016-JF-FX-K001
• Agencies: OJJDP-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Data Snapshot

Annotation

This factsheet presents highlights and trends in juvenile arrest data based on estimates from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

Abstract

This Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) "Data Snapshot" presents highlights and trends in juvenile arrests derived from data and estimates from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Program. Overall, juvenile arrests reported in 2018 reached a four-decade low. Specific highlights presented include: (1) The number of juvenile arrests fell continuously since 2006 and reached a historic low in 2018. (2) Following a 5% decline in the last report year, the number of juvenile arrests for violent crime offenses reached a new low in 2018. (3) The decline in arrests since 1996 was greater for juveniles than adults, with juveniles accounting for 7% of arrests in 2018. (4) Males and white youth accounted for the majority of juvenile arrests in 2018. And, (5) with few exceptions, juvenile arrests for Property Crime Index offenses have declined annually since the mid-1990s. More information on juvenile arrests is available in OJJDP's Statistical Briefing Book (https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/) under the "Law Enforcement & Juvenile Crime" section.