Although the U.S. violent crime rate has decreased since 1994, homicide remains a leading cause of death for young people. In 1997 (the most recent year for which data were available for the Report), an average of six juveniles were murdered every day. Between 1980 and 1997, three of four murdered juveniles age 12 or older were killed with a firearm.

Juveniles are twice as likely as adults to be victims of serious violent crime and three times as likely to be victims of assault. Many of these victims are quite young. Law enforcement data indicate that 1 in 18 victims of violent crime is under age 12. In one-third of the sexual assaults reported to law enforcement, the victim is under age 12. In most cases involving serious violent crime, juvenile victims know the perpetrator, who is not the stereotypical "stranger," but a family member or acquaintance.

In 1996, child protective services received reports on more than 3 million maltreated children. In 80 percent of these reported cases, the alleged perpetrator was the child's parent. More than 1,000 children died as the result of maltreatment in 1996. Three in four of these victims were children under age 4.

Children with a history of maltreatment experience increased risk factors for delinquency. In addition, maltreatment and victimization can damage self-esteem, demolish families, and destroy futures. The statistics highlighted in this Bulletin should act as an urgent call to communities, schools, juvenile justice agencies, courts, families, and others to make combating crimes against children a priority.

John J. Wilson
Acting Administrator

1999 National Report Series, Juvenile Justice Bulletin: Children as Victims	May 2000