Age-specific Arrest Rate Trends |
Q: |
What is the trend for age-specific arrest rates for simple assault? |
A: |
Simple assault arrest rates in 2019 were higher than the rates in 1980 for all juvenile age groups, and for adults ages 21 and older. |
Simple assault arrests per 100,000 population, 1980, 1997, 2019
Age |
1980 |
1997 |
2019 |
10 to 12 |
69.1 |
236.2 |
128.8 |
13 to 14 |
265.8 |
870.4 |
456.7 |
Age 15 |
396.8 |
1,122.8 |
578.8 |
Age 16 |
461.2 |
1,275.2 |
579.0 |
Age 17 |
530.8 |
1,249.5 |
549.1 |
Age 18 |
547.6 |
1,271.2 |
492.2 |
Age 19 |
544.5 |
1,214.8 |
532.8 |
Age 20 |
563.8 |
1,207.2 |
552.1 |
Age 21 |
573.6 |
1,279.4 |
650.6 |
Age 22 |
549.9 |
1,252.5 |
657.3 |
Age 23 |
539.7 |
1,243.0 |
677.4 |
Age 24 |
514.9 |
1,209.4 |
684.7 |
25 to 29 |
423.4 |
1,063.0 |
702.3 |
30 to 34 |
312.1 |
962.6 |
655.4 |
35 to 39 |
250.8 |
792.1 |
568.2 |
40 to 44 |
196.5 |
537.7 |
436.4 |
45 to 49 |
140.6 |
322.8 |
320.9 |
50 to 54 |
89.8 |
192.3 |
254.2 |
55 to 59 |
55.0 |
123.1 |
178.1 |
60 to 64 |
33.9 |
75.4 |
101.0 |
[ Graph version ]
[ CSV file ]
- The peak year for juvenile simple assault arrest rates was 1997. Between 1980 and 1997, arrest rates for youth ages 15-17 increased an average of 165%. The rates also increased substantially for adults in their thirties. More specifically, the rates increased 208% for adults ages 30-34 and 216% for those ages 35-39.
- Between 1997 and 2019, simple assault arrest rates declined for all groups under age 45. Specifically, the rates dropped 53% for youth ages 15-17, compared with 51% for adults ages 18-24, 34% for those ages 25-29, and 30% for those ages 30-39.
- Overall from 1980 to 2019, simple assault arrest rates for youth ages 15-17 increased 25%. In comparison, rates increased less for young adults ages 18-24 (up 11%), and rates more than doubled for adults older than age 30.
Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/crime/qa05306.asp?qaDate=2019.
Released on November 16, 2020.
Data source: Arrest estimates for 1980-2014 developed by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and disseminated through "Arrest Data Analysis Tool." Online. Available from the BJS website.
Arrest estimates for 2015 through 2019 developed by the National Center for Juvenile Justice based on data published in the FBI's Crime in the United States reports. These are preliminary estimates that will be updated upon release of final estimates on the Bureau of Justice Statistics' Arrest Data Analysis Tool.
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