| Comparing Offending by Adults & Juveniles |
| Q: |
What time of day are adults and youth most likely to commit violent crimes? |
| A: |
Unlike violent crime by adults (18 and older), violent crime committed by youth (ages 7-17) peaks in the late afternoon. |
Violent crime time of day
(per 1,000 in age group)
| Time |
Under 18 |
18 and older |
| 6AM |
8.2 |
15.9 |
| 7AM |
27.4 |
20.2 |
| 8AM |
45.2 |
28.4 |
| 9AM |
41.3 |
30.5 |
| 10AM |
46.5 |
34.6 |
| 11AM |
57.5 |
38.0 |
| 12PM |
72.3 |
45.1 |
| 1PM |
61.7 |
40.0 |
| 2PM |
73.3 |
43.2 |
| 3PM |
88.1 |
47.6 |
| 4PM |
73.7 |
50.9 |
| 5PM |
60.1 |
54.5 |
| 6PM |
59.8 |
58.4 |
| 7PM |
56.7 |
59.1 |
| 8PM |
53.5 |
61.9 |
| 9PM |
46.0 |
63.0 |
| 10PM |
36.8 |
61.0 |
| 11PM |
25.9 |
54.5 |
| 12AM |
20.8 |
49.9 |
| 1AM |
15.6 |
45.3 |
| 2AM |
10.8 |
37.8 |
| 3AM |
8.4 |
26.6 |
| 4AM |
5.4 |
18.6 |
| 5AM |
4.8 |
15.1 |
Note: Violent crimes include murder, violent sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, simple assault, and kidnapping.
Data are from law enforcement agencies in 45 states and the District of Columbia.
[ Graph version ]
[ CSV file ]
- In general, the number of violent crimes committed by adults increases hourly from 6 a.m. through the afternoon and evening hours, peaks at 9 p.m., and then drops to a low point at 5 a.m. In contrast, violent crimes committed by youth peak in the afternoon between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., the hour at the end of the school day.
- More than one-third (37%) of all violent crime committed by youth occurs in the 5 hour period between noon and 5 p.m. In comparison, 30% of all violent crime committed by adults occurs between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m..
Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/offenders/qa03401.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.
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