Law Enforcement & Juvenile Crime
Highlights from Chapter 5:
- Law enforcement agencies made 2.2 million arrests of persons under age 18 in 2003. The most serious charge in almost half of all juvenile arrests in 2003 was larceny-theft, simple assault, a drug abuse violation, disorderly conduct, or a liquor law violation. (p. 125)
- A greater proportion of female arrests (20%) than male arrests (15%) involved a person younger than age 18. (p. 126)
- Between 1994 and 2003, juvenile arrests for violent crime fell proportionately more than adult arrests. (p. 127)
- The female proportion of juvenile arrests increased substantially between 1980 and 2002 for the crimes of aggravated assault, simple assault, burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft vandalism, weapons law violations, liquor law violations, and curfew and loitering law violations. (p. 128)
- The juvenile violent crime arrest rate is at its lowest level in a generation. The juvenile violent crime arrest rate in 2003 was below the levels of the 1980s.
(p. 132)
- The juvenile arrest rate for burglary in 2003 was one-third of what it was in 1980. (p. 138)
- The juvenile arrest rate for simple assault in 2003 was more than double what it was in 1980. (p. 142)
