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Juveniles in Court
Juvenile Court Cases
Q: What are the characteristics of delinquency cases handled by juvenile courts?
A: Females accounted for one-fourth (28%) of the nearly 1.4 million delinquency cases handled by juvenile courts in 2010, youth under age 16 accounted for 52% of all cases, and minority youth accounted for one-third (36%) of all cases.

Characteristics of delinquency cases handled by juvenile courts, 2010

Most serious offense
Number
of cases
Percent of cases handled by juvenile courts
Female Under 16 White Black American
Indian		 Asian/NHPI
Total Delinquency
1,368,200
28%
52%
64%
33%
2%
1%
Person Offenses
346,800
31
59
57
40
1
1
Violent Crime Index*
71,000
19
53
45
53
1
1
Criminal homicide
1,000
13
34
55
43
1
2
Forcible rape
3,900
3
57
65
32
2
0
Robbery
26,300
10
48
30
68
1
2
Aggravated assault
39,900
26
56
52
45
1
1
Simple assault
237,100
36
61
60
38
2
1
Other violent sex offenses
12,700
7
69
66
32
1
1
Other person offenses
26,000
29
57
67
30
1
1
Property Offenses
502,400
29
53
66
31
2
2
Property Crime Index**
355,500
34
52
64
33
2
2
Burglary
90,100
10
52
63
34
1
1
Larceny-theft
243,800
45
52
64
32
2
2
Motor vehicle theft
16,100
21
47
57
38
2
2
Arson
5,500
14
76
73
24
1
1
Vandalism
79,400
15
61
77
20
2
1
Trespassing
42,500
19
53
61
36
1
1
Stolen property offenses
14,000
15
45
57
40
1
2
Other property offenses
11,100
29
45
66
31
2
1
Drug Law Violations
164,100
18
41
76
21
2
1
Public Order Offenses
354,800
28
49
63
34
2
1
Obstruction of justice
166,200
26
41
63
34
2
1
Disorderly conduct
101,200
35
62
54
43
2
1
Weapons offenses
29,700
12
58
62
35
1
2
Liquor law violations
16,400
32
34
89
7
3
1
Nonviolent sex offenses
11,200
21
65
74
25
1
1
Other public order offenses
30,000
25
48
74
24
1
2
* Includes criminal homicide, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.
** Includes burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson.

Note: Detail may not add to totals because of rounding. Percents are based on unrounded numbers.

[ Excel file ]

  • Delinquency offenses are acts committed by juveniles that would be crimes if committed by adults.
  • In 2010, females accounted for 45% of all larceny-theft cases, 36% of all simple assault cases, and 35% of disorderly conduct cases.
  • Youth under age 16 accounted for more than three-fourths (76%) of all arson cases handled in 2010, and 60% or more of all simple assault, vandalism, and disorderly conduct offenses.
  • Minority youth accounted for more than half (55%) of all Violent Crime Index offense cases and one-fourth (24%) of all drug law violation cases.
Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: http://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/court/qa06206.asp?qaDate=2010. Released on April 17, 2013.

Adapted from Juvenile Court Statistics 2010 (forthcoming). Pittsburgh, PA: National Center for Juvenile Justice.

Data Source: National Juvenile Court Data Archive. National Center for Juvenile Justice. Pittsburgh, PA.

 

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