Juvenile Arrests for Homicide: 1984-2006 |
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The rate of juvenile arrests for homicide rose steadily in the 1980's, before peaking in the early 1990's. High-profile school shootings around this time prompted unrealistic fears that youth violence was skyrocketing in the United States. However, in 1994 juvenile arrests began to decline sharply and have been fairly stable in recent years. |
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime in the United States, 1984-2006: Uniform Crime Reports. |
Why did violent juvenile crime increase in the 1980's?
Violent juvenile crime likely increased for several reasons. Law enforcement authorities point to the introduction of crack cocaine and the accompanying crimes associated with drug sales and addiction. At the same time, the U.S. gun market was flooded with cheaper, but more lethal handguns that frequently found their way into the hands of juveniles. Juveniles were also likely affected by the prevalence of single-parent families and inadequate parental supervision after school. Finally, extensive research has shown the impact of media violence on the development of aggressive attitudes and behavior.
Juvenile Arrests for Aggravated Assault: 1994 to 2006 |
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The downward trend in youth violence from 1994 to the present was not limited to homicide. According to FBI Uniform Crime Reports, juvenile arrests for aggravated assault have also declined dramatically since 1994. |
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime in the United States, 1994-2006: Uniform Crime Reports. |
Why did violent juvenile crime decline?
Violent juvenile crime declined for a number of reasons. The nation's economic improvement meant more jobs for young adults and single parents. Several improvements in law enforcement, such as community policing, a reduction in the crack cocaine market, and restrictions on youth gun access, helped reduce the amount of violent juvenile crime. Also, the massive increase in school and after-school programs allowed youth to participate in more constructive activities and stay off the streets.
Juvenile vs. Adult: Murder Arrests, 2006 |
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According to the FBI Uniform Crime Reports, a total of 9,815 people were arrested for murder in 2006. Only 956 (10%) of those arrested were individuals under the age of 18. |
Juvenile vs. Adult: Violent Crime Arrests, 2006 |
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According to the FBI Uniform Crime Reports, a total of 447,932 arrests for violent crimes were made in 2006. Of those arrested, 73,991 (17%) were juveniles. |
Juvenile vs. Adult: Property Crime Arrests, 2006 |
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According to the FBI Uniform Crime Reports, a total of 1,136,602 arrests for property crimes were made in 2006. Of those arrested, 298,568 (26%), were juveniles. |
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime in the United States, 2006: Uniform Crime Reports. |
Juvenile Murder Arrests by Gender and Race, 2006 |
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According to the FBI Uniform Crime Reports from 2006, male juvenile arrests for homicide were nearly nine times greater than for females. The number of African American juvenile arrests for homicide were disproportionately high relative to Caucasian juvenile arrests, given that there were more than twice as many Caucasian as African American juveniles in the U.S. population in 2006. See our multicultural issues page for more information. |
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime in the United States, 2006: Uniform Crime Reports |
Homicide Rates for Selected Countries, 2006 |
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The United States has one of the highest rates of homicide in the world. Some of the countries with rates higher than the U.S. include Columbia, South Africa, Jamaica, Venezuela, Russia, Mexico, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Thailand. |
Statistical Office of the European Comunities |
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