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Juveniles in Court
Juvenile Court Cases
Q: How many delinquency cases are handled by juvenile courts?
A: In 2005 courts with juvenile jurisdiction disposed more than 1.70 million delinquency cases.

Estimated number of delinquency cases, 2005

Most serious offense
Number
of cases
Percent change
1985-2005 1996-2005 2000-2005 2004-2005
Total Delinquency
1,697,900
46%
-8%
0%
1%
Person Offenses
429,500
133
8
10
3
Violent Crime Index*
81,600
27
-28
3
10
Criminal homicide
1,400
11
-45
-17
2
Forcible rape
4,400
22
-15
-1
0
Robbery
26,000
2
-32
19
21
Aggravated assault
49,900
48
-26
-3
6
Simple assault
298,600
193
22
11
2
Other violent sex offenses
17,700
118
41
33
6
Other person offenses
31,600
192
7
6
-2
Property Offenses
598,600
-15
-33
-12
-3
Property Crime Index**
404,900
-22
-36
-14
-5
Burglary
97,600
-32
-35
-12
-1
Larceny-theft
265,800
-20
-37
-15
-6
Motor vehicle theft
32,900
-16
-38
-12
-6
Arson
8,500
20
-10
-9
-5
Vandalism
100,900
18
-17
0
4
Trespassing
52,000
-4
-24
-4
0
Stolen property offenses
19,900
-28
-42
-22
1
Other property offenses
20,900
17
-32
-20
2
Drug Law Violations
195,300
153
8
0
0
Public Order Offenses
474,400
146
28
8
3
Obstruction of justice
222,400
238
34
3
3
Disorderly conduct
129,600
191
43
30
4
Weapons offenses
43,600
117
-3
16
5
Liquor law violations
24,600
28
59
-1
-4
Nonviolent sex offenses
13,700
8
24
0
-2
Other public order offenses
40,400
31
-5
-13
1
* Includes criminal homicide, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.
** Includes burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson.

Note: Detail may not add to totals because of rounding. Percent-change calculations are based on unrounded numbers.

[ Excel file ]

  • Delinquency offenses are acts committed by juveniles that would be crimes if committed by adults.
  • The overall juvenile court delinquency caseload was less in 2005 than in 1999 but 46% greater than the 1985 caseload.
Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/ojstatbb/court/qa06201.asp?qaDate=2005. Released on September 12, 2008.

Adapted from Puzzanchera, C. and Sickmund, M. (2008). Juvenile Court Statistics 2005. Washington, D.C.: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

Data Source: National Juvenile Court Data Archive. National Center for Juvenile Justice. Pittsburgh, PA.

 

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