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Juveniles in Court
Juvenile Court Cases
Q: What are the characteristics of delinquency cases handled by juvenile courts?
A: Females accounted for one-fourth (27%) of the 1.7 million delinquency cases handled by juvenile courts in 2005, youth under age 16 accounted for 57% of all cases, and minority youth accounted for one-third (36%) of all cases.

Characteristics of delinquency cases handled by juvenile courts, 2005

Most serious offense
Number
of cases
Percent of cases handled by juvenile courts
Female Under 16 White Black American
Indian		 Asian/NHPI
Total Delinquency
1,697,900
27%
57%
64%
33%
1%
1%
Person Offenses
429,500
30
64
57
41
1
1
Violent Crime Index*
81,600
19
58
44
53
2
2
Criminal homicide
1,400
17
37
57
38
3
2
Forcible rape
4,400
3
57
67
31
2
1
Robbery
26,000
10
55
29
68
1
2
Aggravated assault
49,900
26
60
50
47
2
1
Simple assault
298,600
34
65
59
39
1
1
Other violent sex offenses
17,700
6
72
67
31
1
1
Other person offenses
31,600
28
61
65
34
1
1
Property Offenses
598,600
27
59
67
29
2
2
Property Crime Index**
404,900
32
59
66
30
2
2
Burglary
97,600
11
60
66
30
2
2
Larceny-theft
265,800
41
60
67
30
2
2
Motor vehicle theft
32,900
23
52
58
37
2
3
Arson
8,500
14
76
76
22
1
1
Vandalism
100,900
16
64
77
20
1
1
Trespassing
52,000
19
57
62
36
1
1
Stolen property offenses
19,900
15
51
55
43
1
2
Other property offenses
20,900
31
46
67
29
2
1
Drug Law Violations
195,300
20
42
74
24
2
1
Public Order Offenses
474,400
28
54
63
34
1
1
Obstruction of justice
222,400
29
46
64
33
1
1
Disorderly conduct
129,600
34
67
54
44
1
1
Weapons offenses
43,600
13
62
62
36
1
2
Liquor law violations
24,600
32
29
89
8
2
1
Nonviolent sex offenses
13,700
18
65
71
26
1
1
Other public order offenses
40,400
25
52
73
24
1
2
* 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. Percents are based on unrounded numbers.

[ Excel file ]

  • Delinquency offenses are acts committed by juveniles that would be crimes if committed by adults.
  • In 2005, females accounted for 41% of all larceny-theft cases, and 34% of all simple assault and disorderly conduct cases.
  • Youth under age 16 accounted for more than three-fourths (76%) of all arson cases handled in 2005, and 60% or more of all aggravated assault, simple assault, and weapons law violation cases.
  • Minority youth accounted for more than half (56%) of all Violent Crime Index offense cases and one-fourth (26%) of all drug law violation cases.
Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/ojstatbb/court/qa06206.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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