| Q: |
How many delinquency cases are handled by juvenile courts? |
| A: |
In 2019, courts with juvenile jurisdiction disposed approximately 722,600 delinquency cases, the fewest number of cases handled since the mid-1970s. |
Estimated number of delinquency cases, 2019
| Most serious offense |
Number
of cases |
Percent change |
| 1985-2019 |
2010-2019 |
2015-2019 |
2018-2019 |
| Total Delinquency |
722,600 |
-38% |
-45% |
-17% |
-2% |
| Person Offenses |
237,000 |
29% |
-29% |
-2% |
3% |
Violent Crime Index* |
53,600 |
-13% |
-22% |
4% |
2% |
Criminal homicide |
1,100 |
-4% |
34% |
49% |
10% |
Rape |
8,300 |
59% |
-3% |
12% |
7% |
Robbery |
18,600 |
-26% |
-26% |
1% |
0% |
Aggravated assault |
25,700 |
-14% |
-25% |
2% |
1% |
Simple assault |
153,100 |
45% |
-30% |
-4% |
5% |
Other violent sex offenses |
7,500 |
12% |
-26% |
1% |
-1% |
Other person offenses |
22,700 |
118% |
-38% |
-2% |
-2% |
| Property Offenses |
214,500 |
-70% |
-56% |
-28% |
-4% |
Property Crime Index** |
145,600 |
-72% |
-58% |
-31% |
-6% |
Burglary |
38,600 |
-73% |
-55% |
-26% |
-7% |
Larceny-theft |
89,600 |
-73% |
-63% |
-38% |
-7% |
Motor vehicle theft |
15,300 |
-57% |
-2% |
16% |
3% |
Arson |
2,100 |
-69% |
-54% |
-23% |
-1% |
Vandalism |
35,900 |
-58% |
-54% |
-17% |
1% |
Trespassing |
19,500 |
-63% |
-54% |
-26% |
-4% |
Stolen property offenses |
7,000 |
-77% |
-51% |
-17% |
-4% |
Other property offenses |
6,600 |
-64% |
-35% |
-4% |
3% |
| Drug law violations |
96,400 |
25% |
-40% |
-12% |
-4% |
| Public Order Offenses |
174,700 |
-11% |
-48% |
-20% |
-5% |
Obstruction of justice |
81,000 |
20% |
-49% |
-26% |
-9% |
Disorderly conduct |
48,300 |
7% |
-51% |
-17% |
0% |
Weapons offenses |
16,000 |
-20% |
-46% |
-14% |
-1% |
Liquor Law Violations |
4,100 |
-77% |
-69% |
-32% |
3% |
Nonviolent sex offense |
11,500 |
-12% |
5% |
9% |
5% |
Other public order offenses |
13,900 |
-57% |
-44% |
-11% |
-8% |
* Includes criminal homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.
** Includes burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson.
Note: Detail may not add to totals because of rounding. Percent-change based on unrounded numbers.
[ CSV file ]
- Delinquency offenses are acts committed by juveniles that would be crimes if committed by adults.
- The juvenile court delinquency caseload peaked in 1997, then fell 61% through 2019. By 2019, the delinquency caseload rested at a level 38% lower than in 1985.
Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/court/qa06201.asp?qaDate=2019.
Released on June 22, 2021. Adapted from Easy Access to Juvenile Court Statistics. Available on-line at: https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/ezajcs/.
Data Source: National Juvenile Court Data Archive. National Center for Juvenile Justice. Pittsburgh, PA.
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