Statistical Briefing Book > Offending by Juveniles Previous Page
Time of Day
Q: When are youth most likely to commit violent crime which involves the use of a firearm?
A: Youth (ages 7-17) are most likely to commit a violent crime with a firearm at night on school and nonschool days.
Note: Violent crimes include murder, violent sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault.
Data are from law enforcement agencies in 45 states and the District of Columbia.
  • Violent crime involving a firearm committed by youth follows similar temporal patterns on school and nonschool days; on school days, violent crime involving a firearm committed by youth peaks at 8 p.m. and at 10 p.m. on nonschool days.
  • Overall, 30% of violent crime involving a firearm committed by youth takes place between 8 p.m. and midnight.
Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/offenders/qa03303.asp?qaDate=2019. Released on April 18, 2022.

Data source: Federal Bureau of Investigation. National Incident-Based Reporting System Master Files for the years 2018 and 2019 [machine-readable data files]. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation.