In 2000, 28% of juvenile arrests were arrests of females

Law enforcement agencies made 655,700 arrests of females under age 18 in 2000. Between 1991 and 2000, arrests of juvenile females generally increased more (or decreased less) than male arrests in most offense categories.


Most Serious Offense Percent Change in Juvenile Arrests 1991–2000
Female Male
Robbery –20% –30%
Aggravated assault 44 –16
Burglary –15 –40
Larceny-theft –2 –32
Motor vehicle theft –28 –54
Simple assault 78 24
Vandalism 18 –25
Weapons 18 –29
Drug abuse violations 220 135
Liquor law violations 38 13
Curfew and loitering 111 70
Runaways –16 –20
Data source: Crime in the United States 2000, table 33.


Between 1980 and 2000, juvenile arrest rates increased proportionately more for females than for males, especially for violent crimes

Aggravated assault

Eight line graphs showing male and female arrests for aggravated assault, other (simple) assault, weapons violations, and drug abuse violations per 100,000 juveniles ages 10–17 in 1980–2000.

Other (simple) assault

Eight line graphs showing male and female arrests for aggravated assault, other (simple) assault, weapons violations, and drug abuse violations per 100,000 juveniles ages 10–17 in 1980–2000.

Weapons

Eight line graphs showing male and female arrests for aggravated assault, other (simple) assault, weapons violations, and drug abuse violations per 100,000 juveniles ages 10–17 in 1980–2000.

Drug Abuse

Eight line graphs showing male and female arrests for aggravated assault, other (simple) assault, weapons violations, and drug abuse violations per 100,000 juveniles ages 10–17 in 1980–2000.
  • Between 1980 and 2000, the arrest rate for all offenses increased 35% for juvenile females and declined 11% for juvenile males.
  • The change in the female juvenile arrest rate between 1980 and 2000 was greater than the change in the male rate for aggravated assault (121% vs. 28%), simple assault (257% vs. 109%), and weapons law violations (134% vs. 20%).
  • In some offense categories, the male arrest rate increased more than the female rate (e.g., for drug abuse violations, it was 70% vs. 47%, respectively).

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




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Juvenile Arrests 2000 OJJDP Bulletin • November 2002