NCJ Number
139333
Date Published
1992
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This analysis of FBI crime statistics for 1965 through 1991 indicates that juveniles and young adults are committing murder and violent crimes in the United States at higher rates than ever before, even though demographic data show that this age group now composes a smaller percentage of the population.
Abstract
Criminal homicide arrest rates for adult and juvenile males rose by as much as 217 percent from 1985 through 1991, and this trend is geographically widespread. Only towns with fewer than 10,000 people had little or no increase in violent crime between 1985 and 1991. This analysis found that during the first half of the 1980's, arrests from criminal homicide declined for all age groups to a 15-year low, but this trend reversed for young adult and juvenile males after 1985. This occurred as the percentage of 18-to-24 year-olds dropped from 13.2 percent of the population to 10.4 percent. Between 1985 and 1991, arrest rates for criminal homicide increased among 13 to 14 year-old males by 140 percent, among 15 year-old males by 217 percent, among 16 year-old males by 158 percent, among 17 year-old males by 121 percent, and among 18 year-old males by 113 percent. The authors conclude that the new youth generation has more dangerous drugs in their bodies, more deadly weapons in their hands, and are being socialized into a culture with a casual attitude toward violence and human life. 3 figures and 3 tables