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Offending by Juveniles
Homicide
Q: What are the trends in homicides committed by youth involving firearms?
A: The national trend in murders by known juvenile offenders reflected the growth and subsequent decline in homicides committed with firearms.

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  • Between 1984 and 1994, the number of firearm related homicides committed by known juvenile offenders quadrupled.
  • The sharp decline in homicides by known juvenile offenders between 1994 and 2001 was attributable entirely to a decline in homicides by firearm. During that period, the number of firearm related homicides fell 73%.
  • Firearm-related murders by juveniles increased between 2001 and 2007, then declined 46% through 2013, reaching its lowest level since at least 1980. Since the 2013 low point, the number of juvenile homicide offenders that used a firearm more than doubled through 2020. In the last year alone, the number of firearm related homicides increased 38%.

Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/offenders/qa03103.asp?qaDate=2020. Released on December 09, 2021.

Adapted from Puzzanchera, C., Chamberlin, G. and Kang, W. (2021). Easy Access to the FBI's Supplementary Homicide Reports. Available on-line at: https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/ezashr/.

Data Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation. Supplementary Homicide Reports for the years 1980–2020 [machine-readable data files]. Washington, D.C.: FBI.

 

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