Juvenile Offenders
Highlights from Chapter 3:
- In 2002 one in twelve murders in the U.S. involved a juvenile offender. One-third of murders committed by a juvenile offender also involved an adult offender. (p. 65-66)
- The large decline in the number of murders committed by juveniles from the mid-1990s to 2002 stemmed primarily from a decline in minority males killing minority males. (p. 67)
- While the annual number of murders by juvenile offenders soared and then fell between 1980 and 2002, the murders of family members remained relatively constant. (p. 68)
- Self-reports by juveniles show that two-thirds of youth who reported committing a crime at age 16 or 17 did not report committing a crime at age 18 or 19. (p. 71)
- Juveniles who lived with both biological parents had lower lifetime prevalence of law-violating behaviors than did juveniles who lived in other family types. (p. 72)
- Thirty-two percent (32%) of youth ages 12 to 17 who report recently using alcohol also report using marijuana; in contrast, just 2% of youth who report no recent use of alcohol reported using marijuana. (p. 81)
- The violent crime peak in the after-school hours on school days is seen in the crimes committed by male, female, white and black youth. (p. 86)
- Violent crimes committed with firearms peak between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. for both juvenile and adult offenders. (p.88)
- Unlike violent crimes, the timing of shoplifting by juveniles is similar on both school days and nonschool days; however, the peak times are still between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. (p. 89)
- In 2003, high school students responding to a national survey reported having property stolen or damaged at school (1 in 3) more often than fighting at school (1 in 8). Fear of school-related crime kept 5 in 100 high schoolers home at least once during the prior month. (p. 73)
- Six percent (6%) of high school students said they carried a weapon (e.g., gun, knife, or club) on school property in the past 30 days-down from 12% in 1993. The proportion that carried a weapon to school was about one-third of those who said they had carried a weapon anywhere in the past month. In addition, 6% of high schoolers reported carrying a gun anywhere in the past month, down from 8% in 1993. (p. 74)
- Half of high school seniors (51%) surveyed in 2003 said they had tried illicit drugs at least once. The figure was lower for 10th graders (41%) and 8th graders (23%). Marijuana was the most common drug used-46% of seniors said they had tried marijuana. About half of those who had used marijuana said they had not used any other illicit drugs. (p. 75)
- In comparison, more than three-quarters of seniors said they had tried alcohol. Even among 8th graders, alcohol use was common: two-thirds had tried it. (p. 75)
- Perhaps of greater concern are the juveniles who indicated heavy drinking (five or more drinks in a row) in the preceding 2 weeks. Recent heavy drinking was reported by 28% of seniors, 22% of 10th graders, and 12% of 8th graders. (p. 76) The good news is that past month alcohol use in 2004 for all three grades was at or near its lowest levels since the mid-1970s. (p. 79)
- Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for high school students, accounting for 77% of all deaths in 2002 among teens ages 14-17. Three in 10 high school students said that in the past month they rode in a vehicle with a driver who had been drinking. In addition, 3 in 25 high school students said that in the past month they drove a vehicle after drinking alcohol. (p. 77)
- In 2003, fewer than 1 in 3 high school students said they were offered, sold, or given drugs at school in the past year. (p. 77)
- Change in students' use of marijuana and alcohol is tied to their perception of possible harm from use and unrelated to perceived availability. When the perceived risk of harm (physical or other) from use of marijuana or alcohol increased, use declined; when perceived risk declined, use increased. (p. 80)
- Although the number of law enforcement agencies reporting gang problems appears to have stabilized, and the prevalence of youth gangs declined in nonurban areas, gangs remain a substantial urban problem. Gang members are responsible for a disproportionate share of violent and nonviolent offenses. (p. 82-84)
- Unlike violent crimes and property crimes, juvenile arrests for drug law violations peaked during school hours on school days and in the late evening hours on nonschool days. (p. 89)
- Juvenile arrests for weapon law violations peaked during school hours on school days and in the late evening hours on nonschool days. (p. 89)
