Many adult victims of juvenile assault were family members

Parents and stepparents accounted for 9% of all victims of aggravated assaults committed by juveniles and 13% of all simple assaults by juveniles. However, among assault victims older than 30, parents and stepparents accounted for much larger shares: 37% for aggravated assault and 52% for simple assault.

Aggravated assault by juveniles— percentage of victims who were family members:
Victim Age
Total Family
Parents
Other Family
20–24
12%
0%
12%
25–29
12
4
8
30–34
34
25
9
35–39
49
41
8
40–44
51
44
7
45–49
49
43
6
50–54
40
31
8

Simple assault by juveniles—percentage of victims who were family members:
Victim Age
Total Family
Parents
Other Family
20–24
21%
0%
21%
25–29
20
7
13
30–34
50
41
10
35–39
67
60
8
40–44
66
60
7
45–49
58
51
6
50–54
48
37
11

Most young victims of juvenile sexual assault knew the offender

Acquaintances or family members younger than 12 constituted 54% of the victims of sexual assaults committed by juvenile offenders. Of all family victims of sexual assaults by juveniles, 36% were younger than 6 and most (84%) were younger than 12. Most victims who were either acquaintances or strangers were 12 or older.

Sexual assault by juveniles—victim's relationship to offender:
Victim Age
Family
Acquaintance
Stranger
5 and younger
36%
17%
13%
6–11
48
28
19
12–17
15
50
46
18 and older
2
4
23
Total
100%
100%
100%
Note: Detail may not total 100% because of rounding.

Previous Contents Next

Victims of Violent Juvenile Crime OJJDP Bulletin • July 2004