Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program reveal that police agencies made an estimated 2.9 million arrests of persons under age 18 in 1996.
Despite declines in juvenile arrests for violent crimes in 1995 and 1996, the number of juvenile Violent Crime Index arrests in 1996 was 60 percent above the 1987 level. Nevertheless, the decreases in recent years occurred despite the increase in the juvenile population. Juveniles were involved in 37 percent of all burglary arrests, 32 percent of robbery arrests, 24 percent of weapon arrests, and 15 percent of murder and aggravated assault arrests. About 1 in every 220 persons age 10-17 in the United States was arrested for a Violent Crime Index offense in 1996. Juvenile murder arrests declined 3 percent between 1993 and 1994, 14 percent between 1994 and 1995, and another 14 percent between 1995 and 1996. Between 1992 and 1996, juvenile arrests for burglary declined 7 percent and juvenile arrests for motor vehicle theft declined 20 percent. Juvenile arrests for drug law offenses increased 120 percent between 1992 and 1996. Juveniles were involved in 14 percent of all drug arrests in 1996. Figures, tables, methodological information, and reference notes