Comparing Adult & Juvenile Offenders

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), Serving Children, Families, and Communities

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Q:	What time of day are adults and juveniles most likely to commit violent crimes?
A:	Unlike violent crime by adult offenders, violent crime by juvenile offenders peaks in the late afternoon.

Note: Violent crimes include murder, violent sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault. Data are from law enforcement agencies in 21 states and the District of Columbia.

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In general, the number of violent crimes committed by adults increases hourly from 6 a.m. through the afternoon and evening hours, peaks at 9 p.m., and then drops to a low point at 6 a.m. In contrast, violent crimes by juveniles peak in the afternoon between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., the hour at the end of the school day.
Nearly one-third (31%) of all violent crime committed by juvenile offenders occurs between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. In comparison, 27% of all violent committed by adult offenders occurs between 8 p.m. and 12 p.m.

Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/ojstatbb/offenders/qa03401.asp?qaDate=2001. Released on September 22, 2006.

Adapted from Snyder, H. & Sickmund, M. (2006). Juvenile Offenders and Victims: 2006 National Report, Chapter 3. Washington, D.C.: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

Data Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation. National Incident-Based Reporting System master files for the years 2000–2001 [machine-readable data files]. Washington, D.C.: FBI.