Estimated number of homicide victims of juvenile offenders, 1980-2010

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

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Homicide

Q:	How many murders are committed by juvenile offenders in the United States?
A:	Known juvenile offenders were involved in at least 766 murders in the U.S. in 2010, representing about 8% of all known murder offenders.

Year	Only one juvenile	Juveniles only	Juvenile & adults

1980	874	117	291
1981	817	113	324
1982	657	107	299
1983	672	88	232
1984	561	91	182
1985	653	85	247
1986	765	103	289
1987	782	106	282
1988	884	156	364
1989	1,004	161	403
1990	1,099	220	572
1991	1,213	197	657
1992	1,282	228	550
1993	1,366	284	638
1994	1,352	275	715
1995	1,122	210	623
1996	948	183	543
1997	819	168	441
1998	701	118	383
1999	617	92	334
2000	514	91	275
2001	472	72	328
2002	436	80	325
2003	451	79	281
2004	456	83	290
2005	475	90	346
2006	533	106	431
2007	542	96	415
2008	462	89	377
2009	441	76	352
2010	365	72	329

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Between 1994 and 2003, the estimated number of murders involving a juvenile offender fell 65%, to its lowest level since at least 1980. However, between 2003 and 2006, the estimated number of juvenile murder offenders increased more than 30%, then fell 28% through 2010.
In the 1980s, 25% of the murders involving a juvenile offender also involved an adult offender. This proportion grew to 31% in the 1990s and averaged 38% for the years 2000–2010.

Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: http://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/offenders/qa03105.asp?qaDate=2010. Released on July 31, 2012.

Data Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation. Supplementary Homicide Reports for the years 1980–2010 [machine-readable data files]. Washington, D.C.: FBI.