Based on an analysis of FBI arrest data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (data years 1980-2014) and the National Center for Juvenile Justice (data years 2015-2017), this report presents arrest characteristics of older juveniles and young adults (ages 15-24) for the years 1980, 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2017.
In 1980, half of all arrests involved persons ages 15 to 24; by 2017, the percentage of arrests for this age group decreased to 29 percent. Since 2008, arrest rates have declined 60 percent for ages 15-17, 50 percent for ages 18-20, and 31 percent for ages 21-24. In 2017, juveniles ages 15-17 accounted for 19 percent of arrests of persons ages 15-24; however, the proportion varied by offense. Proportions are shown for robbery, aggravated assault, simple assault, burglary, larceny-theft, and disorderly conduct. The proportion of person and property arrests was greater for older juveniles than young adults in 2017. The proportion of arrests for violent crimes involving youth ages 15-17 has declined since 1980. 5 figures