Juvenile arrest rates by State, 2009

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Working for Youth Justice and Safety

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Juvenile Arrests

Q:	How do juvenile arrest rates vary by State?
A:	State variations in juvenile arrest rates may reflect differences in juvenile law-violating behavior, police behavior, and/or community standards; therefore, comparisons should be made with caution.

State	Reporting Coverage		Juvenile arrest rate
State	Reporting Coverage		Violent crime index	Property crime index	Drug abuse	Weapons

United States	84	%	274	1,336	532	103

Alabama	78		158	951	208	31
Alaska	98		259	1,390	405	50
Arizona	99		189	1,542	761	55
Arkansas	85		133	1,258	327	54
California	99		372	1,065	537	174

Colorado	90		176	1,660	687	102
Connecticut	100		310	1,082	441	77
Delaware	100		553	1,824	740	152
District of Columbia	0		NA	NA	NA	NA
Florida	100		407	1,851	652	82

Georgia	69		286	1,441	455	140
Hawaii	89		222	1,598	447	29
Idaho	98		117	1,664	460	78
Illinois	23		924	1,732	1,736	291
Indiana	73		231	1,574	453	58

Iowa	92		235	1,751	357	38
Kansas	64		145	1,198	413	51
Kentucky	53		176	1,112	368	40
Louisiana	54		627	1,749	536	95
Maine	100		57	1,478	488	37

Maryland	100		537	1,834	1,089	179
Massachusetts	93		291	556	112	39
Michigan	96		200	1,022	340	68
Minnesota	97		187	1,894	511	114
Mississippi	55		136	1,582	418	130

Missouri	93		286	1,918	584	103
Montana	93		127	1,681	331	14
Nebraska	89		159	2,153	658	78
Nevada	96		361	1,690	664	134
New Hampshire	88		75	940	642	12

New Jersey	98		312	911	603	147
New Mexico	76		253	1,589	621	122
New York	55		239	1,079	476	60
North Carolina	74		266	1,439	401	175
North Dakota	95		95	2,115	471	47

Ohio	70		145	1,001	295	62
Oklahoma	96		174	1,482	477	74
Oregon	94		150	1,683	598	60
Pennsylvania	94		373	988	429	103
Rhode Island	97		191	1,108	535	167

South Carolina	96		241	1,176	545	118
South Dakota	83		77	1,960	635	90
Tennessee	78		313	1,480	589	130
Texas	98		174	1,198	583	51
Utah	99		105	1,961	558	112

Vermont	97		73	599	233	25
Virginia	95		103	869	307	52
Washington	73		240	1,517	439	100
West Virginia	51		63	707	227	23
Wisconsin	95		245	2,429	723	195
Wyoming	99		85	1,813	813	63

NA = Crime in the United States 2009 reported no arrest counts for the District of Columbia.

Note: In this table the arrest rate is defined as the number of arrests of persons under age 18 for every 100,000 persons ages 10-17. Juvenile arrests (arrests of youth under age 18) reported at the State level in Crime in the United States cannot be disaggregated into more detailed age categories so that the arrests of persons under age 10 can be excluded in the rate calculation.

[ Excel file ]

The Violent Crime Index includes the offenses of murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.
The Property Crime Index includes the offenses of burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson.

Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: http://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/crime/qa05103.asp?qaDate=2009. Released on October 16, 2011.

Adapted from Puzzanchera, C. and Adams, B. (2011). Juvenile Arrests 2009. Washington, D.C.: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.