| Q: |
How many delinquency cases are handled by juvenile courts? |
| A: |
In 2017 courts with juvenile jurisdiction disposed approximately 818,900 delinquency cases, the fewest number of cases handled since the mid-1970s. |
Estimated number of delinquency cases, 2017
| Most serious offense |
Number
of cases |
Percent change |
| 1985-2017 |
2008-2017 |
2013-2017 |
2016-2017 |
| Total Delinquency |
818,900 |
-30% |
-49% |
-27% |
-2% |
| Person Offenses |
241,400 |
31% |
-39% |
-16% |
0% |
Violent Crime Index* |
57,600 |
-6% |
-34% |
-1% |
6% |
Criminal homicide |
1,100 |
-9% |
-8% |
52% |
21% |
Rape |
8,400 |
61% |
-14% |
-2% |
6% |
Robbery |
21,600 |
-15% |
-35% |
3% |
10% |
Aggravated assault |
26,600 |
-11% |
-38% |
-5% |
3% |
Simple assault |
153,000 |
45% |
-39% |
-20% |
-2% |
Other violent sex offenses |
7,500 |
11% |
-37% |
-28% |
5% |
Other person offenses |
23,300 |
124% |
-50% |
-21% |
1% |
| Property Offenses |
265,600 |
-62% |
-56% |
-34% |
-5% |
Property Crime Index** |
185,000 |
-64% |
-56% |
-36% |
-6% |
Burglary |
54,100 |
-62% |
-49% |
-25% |
-0% |
Larceny-theft |
111,300 |
-66% |
-60% |
-44% |
-11% |
Motor vehicle theft |
17,100 |
-52% |
-28% |
45% |
10% |
Arson |
2,500 |
-63% |
-62% |
-42% |
-5% |
Vandalism |
41,500 |
-52% |
-60% |
-31% |
1% |
Trespassing |
23,700 |
-56% |
-57% |
-30% |
-3% |
Stolen property offenses |
8,700 |
-71% |
-52% |
-24% |
-5% |
Other property offenses |
6,800 |
-63% |
-54% |
-17% |
4% |
| Drug Law Violations |
107,400 |
38% |
-39% |
-26% |
1% |
| Public Order Offenses |
204,500 |
5% |
-51% |
-28% |
-4% |
Obstruction of justice |
104,800 |
56% |
-46% |
-25% |
-3% |
Disorderly conduct |
51,300 |
14% |
-58% |
-37% |
-9% |
Weapons offenses |
18,100 |
-10% |
-52% |
-21% |
-0% |
Liquor law violations |
4,800 |
-73% |
-72% |
-44% |
-8% |
Nonviolent sex offenses |
11,900 |
-9% |
1% |
13% |
7% |
Other public order offenses |
13,700 |
-57% |
-57% |
-37% |
-3% |
* 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 57% through 2017. By 2017, the delinquency caseload rested at a level 30% lower than in 1985.
Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/court/qa06201.asp?qaDate=2017.
Released on April 23, 2019. 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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