| Q: |
How many delinquency cases are handled by juvenile courts? |
| A: |
In 2020, courts with juvenile jurisdiction disposed approximately 508,400 delinquency cases, the fewest number of cases handled since the early 1960s. |
Estimated number of delinquency cases, 2020
| Most serious offense |
Number
of cases |
Percent change |
| 1985-2020 |
2011-2020 |
2016-2020 |
2019-2020 |
| Total Delinquency |
508,400 |
-56% |
-58% |
-38% |
-28% |
| Person Offenses |
175,500 |
-5% |
-43% |
-25% |
-26% |
Violent Crime Index* |
45,900 |
-25% |
-26% |
-10% |
-17% |
Criminal homicide |
1,200 |
2% |
60% |
47% |
1% |
Rape |
6,500 |
24% |
-21% |
-13% |
-22% |
Robbery |
16,200 |
-36% |
-27% |
-12% |
-16% |
Aggravated assault |
22,100 |
-26% |
-28% |
-10% |
-17% |
Simple assault |
105,100 |
0% |
-49% |
-30% |
-30% |
Other violent sex offenses |
5,900 |
-12% |
-42% |
-14% |
-19% |
Other person offenses |
18,500 |
78% |
-41% |
-26% |
-24% |
| Property Offenses |
161,000 |
-77% |
-63% |
-41% |
-22% |
Property Crime Index** |
105,600 |
-80% |
-66% |
-45% |
-24% |
Burglary |
32,200 |
-77% |
-59% |
-37% |
-12% |
Larceny-theft |
57,500 |
-83% |
-73% |
-54% |
-33% |
Motor vehicle theft |
14,500 |
-59% |
12% |
-3% |
-4% |
Arson |
1,400 |
-78% |
-67% |
-39% |
-22% |
Vandalism |
29,800 |
-65% |
-56% |
-26% |
-14% |
Trespassing |
14,900 |
-72% |
-61% |
-39% |
-21% |
Stolen property offenses |
5,800 |
-81% |
-53% |
-33% |
-17% |
Other property offenses |
4,900 |
-74% |
-47% |
-24% |
-25% |
| Drug law violations |
56,900 |
-26% |
-63% |
-45% |
-39% |
| Public Order Offenses |
115,000 |
-41% |
-62% |
-44% |
-33% |
Obstruction of justice |
55,100 |
-18% |
-63% |
-47% |
-31% |
Disorderly conduct |
28,100 |
-38% |
-69% |
-49% |
-41% |
Weapons offenses |
12,100 |
-40% |
-55% |
-32% |
-26% |
Liquor Law Violations |
2,500 |
-86% |
-74% |
-52% |
-35% |
Nonviolent sex offense |
8,300 |
-36% |
-20% |
-23% |
-30% |
Other public order offenses |
9,000 |
-72% |
-60% |
-37% |
-35% |
* 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.
It is important to note that 2020 was the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have impacted policies, procedures, and data collection activities regarding referrals to and processing of youth by juvenile courts. Additionally, stay-at-home orders and school closures likely impacted the volume and type of law-violating behavior by youth referred to juvenile court in 2020.
- 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 73% through 2020. By 2020, the delinquency caseload rested at a level 56% lower than in 1985.
Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/court/qa06201.asp?qaDate=2020.
Released on January 10, 2023. 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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