Statistical Briefing Book > Offending by Juveniles Previous Page
Homicide
Q: What are the trends in victim-offender relationships for homicide offending by youth?
A: Victims of known juvenile homicide offenders were more likely to be acquaintances or strangers than family members.
  • Annually since 1980, juvenile offenders killed more acquaintances than strangers. For example, in the ten year period from 2011-2020, 53% of known juvenile homicide offenders killed an acquaintance, 35% killed a stranger, and 12% killed a family member.
  • In the last year, the number of juvenile homicide offenders who killed a stranger increased 66%, compared with a 26% increase in homicides involving an acquaintance.
Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/offenders/qa03107.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.