Juvenile arrests disproportionately involved minorities

The racial composition of the juvenile population in 2002 was 78% white, 16% black, 4% Asian/Pacific Islander, and 1% American Indian. Most Hispanics (an ethnic designation, not a race) were classified as white. In contrast to their representation in the population, black youth were overrepresented in juvenile arrests for violent crimes, and, to a lesser extent, property crimes. Of all juvenile arrests for violent crimes in 2002, 55% involved white youth, 43% involved black youth, 1% involved Asian youth, and 1% involved American Indian youth. For property crime arrests, the proportions were 70% white youth, 27% black youth, 2% Asian youth, and 1% American Indian youth.

The Violent Crime Index arrest rate (i.e., arrests per 100,000 juveniles in the racial group) in 2002 for black juveniles (736) was more than 3.5 times the rates for American Indian juveniles (200) and white juveniles (196) and nearly 7 times the rate for Asian juveniles (95). For Property Crime Index arrests, the rate for black juveniles (2,448) was almost double the rates for American Indian juveniles (1,347) and white juveniles (1,308), and more than 3.5 times the rate for Asian juveniles (668).

Over the period from 1980 through 2002, the black-to-white disparity in juvenile arrest rates for violent crimes declined. In 1980, the black juvenile Violent Crime Index arrest rate was 6.3 times the white rate; in 2002, the rate disparity had declined to 3.8. This reduction in arrest rate disparities between 1980 and 2002 was primarily the result of the decline in black-to-white arrest disparities for robbery (from 11.5 in 1980 to 7.3 in 2002), which was greater than the decline for aggravated assault (3.2 to 2.9).

The decline in juvenile arrest rates from the mid-1990s through 2002 was proportionally greater for black youth than white youth

Murder

Robbery

Aggravated assault

Property Crime Index

Murder arrest rates in 2002 were lower than in any year in the 1980s and 1990s for both white and black juveniles. The murder arrest rate for white juveniles in 2002 was just one-third of what it had been in 1993, while the 2002 rate for black juveniles was just one-fifth of its 1993 value.

• The decline in robbery arrest rates between 1980 and 2002 was greater for black juveniles than white juveniles (64% vs. 43%).
  
  
• The Property Crime Index arrest rates for both white juveniles and black juveniles in 2002 were about half of what they were in 1980.

Data source: Analysis of arrest data from the FBI and population data from the U.S. Bureau of the Census and the National Center for Health Statistics. [See data source note for detail.]

The trend in the juvenile arrest rate for weapons law violations from 1980 to 2002 closely parallels the trend in juvenile murder arrest rates

• The juvenile arrest rate for weapons law violations increased more than 140% between 1980 and 1993.
  
  
• After 1993, the rate fell substantially, to within 14% of its 1980 level by 2002.

Data source: Analysis of arrest data from the FBI and population data from the U.S. Bureau of the Census and the National Center for Health Statistics. [See data source note for detail.]

The juvenile arrest rate for drug abuse violations soared in the 1990s, peaking in 1997

• The arrest rate declined each year from 1998 to 2002, falling 25% from its 1997 peak. However, the juvenile arrest rate for drug abuse violations in 2002 was still 46% above its 1980 level.
  
  
• During the period from 1993 to 2002, the annual number of juvenile arrests for drug abuse violations increased 59%, while adult arrests for this crime increased 34%.

Data source: Analysis of arrest data from the FBI and population data from the U.S. Bureau of the Census and the National Center for Health Statistics. [See data source note for detail.]

Unlike the arrest rate trend for aggravated assault, the juvenile arrest rate for simple assault did not decline substantially after the mid-1990s

• The juvenile arrest rate for simple assault increased by 133% between 1980 and 2002.
  
  
• In 1980, 68% of all assault arrests (i.e., aggravated assault arrests plus simple assault arrests) were simple assaults; by 2002, this proportion had increased to 79%. Most of this increase occurred in the latter half of the 1990s, indicating a greater involvement of law enforcement in less serious offenses.

Data source: Analysis of arrest data from the FBI and population data from the U.S. Bureau of the Census and the National Center for Health Statistics. [See data source note for detail.]

The juvenile arrest rate for DUI declined substantially between 1980 and the mid-1990s, followed by general increases through 2002

• The juvenile arrest rate for driving under the influence in 2002 was 42% below its 1980 level, but 44% above its lowest level, in 1993.
  
  
• Between 1993 and 2002, the number of juvenile arrests for driving under the influence increased 45%, while adult arrests increased 11%. The increase in the number of arrests was far greater for female juveniles (94%) than male juveniles (37%).

Data source: Analysis of arrest data from the FBI and population data from the U.S. Bureau of the Census and the National Center for Health Statistics. [See data source note for detail.]

Juvenile Arrests 2002	OJJDP Bulletin • September 2004