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Youth Arrest Rates

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Description

Law Enforcement & Youth Crime

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Note: Arrest estimates for 2015-2024 were developed by the National Center for Juvenile Justice based on the FBI’s annual Master Arrest Files of 12-month reporting departments available from the Crime Data Explorer.

The US COVID-19 National and Public Health emergency declarations extended from March 1, 2020 through April 10, 2023. These may have impacted the policies, procedures, and data collection activities regarding youth arrests during this period. Additionally, stay-at-home orders and school closures likely impacted the volume and type of law-violating behavior by youth that came to the attention of law enforcement.

All offenses Total by Sex by Race
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter Total by Sex by Race
Forcible rape Total by Sex by Race
Robbery Total by Sex by Race
Aggravated assault Total by Sex by Race
Burglary Total by Sex by Race
Larceny-theft Total by Sex by Race
Motor vehicle theft Total by Sex by Race
Arson Total by Sex by Race
Simple assault Total by Sex by Race
Vandalism Total by Sex by Race
Weapons (carrying, possessing, etc.) Total by Sex by Race
Drug abuse violations Total by Sex by Race
Driving under the influence Total by Sex by Race
Liquor laws Total by Sex by Race
Drunkenness Total by Sex by Race
Disorderly conduct Total by Sex by Race
Curfew and loitering Total by Sex by Race
Violent crimes Total by Sex by Race
Property Crime Index Total by Sex by Race

Note: Beginning in 2013, the FBI broadened the definition of rape, removing the phrase “forcible” from the offense name and description. The new definition of rape is: Penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim. The new definition includes the NIBRS offenses of rape, sodomy, and sexual assault with an object.

Law enforcement agencies may submit data on rape arrests based on either the new or legacy definition of rape. Due to differences in agency reporting practices, arrest rates for rape are not available after 2012. Additionally, arrest rates for the Violent Crime Index (which included “forcible rape”) are no longer shown as this category is not compatible with prior years. Violent crimes include the offenses of murder, robbery, and aggravated assault and is presented as an alternative to the Violent Crime Index. In any given year prior to the change in the rape definition, these three offenses accounted for more than 95% of arrests for Violent Crime Index offenses.