In 1992, juveniles represented 20 percent of all recorded offenders, compared with 35 percent in 1982. The peak age of known offending by males remained 17 to 18 years, while for females, it was between 14 and 15. In 1992, the most common crimes committed by juvenile offenders of all ages and both genders were theft or handling stolen goods, burglary, and violent personal assaults. In 1992, 33 percent of male juvenile offenders and 55 percent of female juvenile offenders were cautioned; these figures explained the decline in the number of juveniles sentenced, compared to 1982 totals. The numbers of cautioned offenders also skewed statistics related to custodial sentencing, as offenders who appeared in court tended to have committed more serious crimes. 13 tables, 2 figures