Selected arrest rate trends




Although it increased slightly from 2002 to 2004, the juvenile arrest rate for weapons law violations in 2004 was still about half its 1993 peak

    3 charts showing juvenile arrest rates for weapons offenses, drug abuse, and simple assault, 1980–2004.

  • Between 1980 and 1993, the juvenile arrest rate for weapons law violations increased more than 140%. Then the rate fell substantially, so that by 2004, the rate was 30% above the 1980 rate.

  • Between 1980 and 1993, the arrest rates for weapons law violations for both white juveniles and black juveniles increased substantially (116% and 214%, respectively). Then both fell substantially, so that by 2004, both rates were about one-third above their 1980 levels (29% and 35%, respectively).

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 was relatively constant in the 1980s but rose considerably in the 1990s

    3 charts showing juvenile arrest rates for weapons offenses, drug abuse, and simple assault, 1980–2004.

  • Between 1990 and 1997, the juvenile arrest rate for drug abuse violations increased 145%. The rate declined somewhat between 1997 and 2004 (down 23%), but the 2004 rate was still almost double the 1990 rate.

  • Over the 1980–2004 period, the white juvenile arrest rate for drug abuse violations peaked in 1997 and held relatively constant through 2004 (down 9%). In contrast, the black rate peaked in 1995 and by 2004 had fallen 44% from its peak level.

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

    3 charts showing juvenile arrest rates for weapons offenses, drug abuse, and simple assault, 1980–2004.

  • The juvenile arrest rate for simple assault increased 145% between 1980 and 2004, holding essentially constant between 1994 and 2004, a period when the aggravated assault arrest rate fell 39%.

  • Between 1980 and 2004, the juvenile arrest rates for simple assault for white youth and black youth more than doubled (138% and 143%, respectively). Between 1994 and 2004, the simple assault rates for both whites and blacks remained essentially constant, while their aggravated assault rates fell (33% and 48%, respectively).

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.]


Between 1994 and 2004, the age-specific arrest rates for Violent Crime Index offenses fell substantially for all ages under 40

    Chart showing juvenile Property Crime Index arrest rate, by age, 1994 and 2004.

  • Juvenile ages showed the largest decline—falling about 50% in each age group from 13 through 17. Between 1994 and 2004, the Violent Crime Index arrest rate for youth ages 10–12 fell 41%. The rate for 18-year-olds fell 44% over this period, while the rates for those ages 19–34 fell about 34%.

  • From 1994 to 2004, the Violent Crime Index arrest rates for those ages 40–54 changed very little, while the rates for those ages 55–64 declined about 20%.

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.]

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Juvenile Arrests 2004 OJJDP Bulletin • December 2006