| Violent Crime Victimization |
| Q: |
What are the trends in serious violent crime victimization of youth? |
| A: |
The rate of serious violent crime for juveniles ages 12-17 increased from 1985 to 1993 and then dropped substantially. |
Rate of serious violent crime per 1,000 juveniles ages 12-17
| Year |
12 to 17 |
12 to 14 |
15 to 17 |
Male |
Female |
White* |
Black* |
Hispanic |
| 1980 |
37.6 |
33.4 |
41.4 |
54.8 |
19.7 |
34.1 |
60.2 |
|
| 1981 |
41.1 |
37.1 |
44.6 |
58.7 |
22.6 |
36.8 |
69.0 |
|
| 1982 |
35.4 |
31.5 |
39.1 |
45.8 |
24.6 |
31.1 |
61.5 |
|
| 1983 |
34.7 |
28.5 |
40.9 |
50.1 |
18.6 |
29.8 |
67.9 |
|
| 1984 |
34.1 |
28.6 |
39.6 |
44.7 |
23.1 |
32.4 |
47.1 |
|
| 1985 |
34.3 |
28.1 |
40.3 |
49.8 |
18.2 |
34.4 |
35.2 |
|
| 1986 |
34.4 |
32.7 |
36.0 |
47.0 |
21.3 |
33.3 |
39.9 |
|
| 1987 |
36.8 |
34.2 |
39.2 |
50.5 |
22.5 |
30.4 |
72.7 |
|
| 1988 |
37.9 |
33.5 |
41.8 |
51.4 |
23.7 |
32.3 |
67.5 |
|
| 1989 |
38.4 |
38.6 |
38.3 |
53.4 |
22.6 |
34.9 |
60.6 |
|
| 1990 |
43.2 |
41.2 |
45.2 |
60.5 |
24.9 |
37.0 |
77.0 |
|
| 1991 |
40.7 |
37.8 |
43.6 |
60.7 |
19.6 |
40.1 |
48.0 |
|
| 1992 |
38.6 |
33.6 |
44.0 |
50.6 |
26.0 |
36.2 |
45.1 |
|
| 1993 |
42.4 |
36.5 |
48.9 |
53.1 |
31.2 |
39.2 |
67.4 |
|
| 1994 |
40.0 |
35.2 |
45.0 |
49.1 |
30.4 |
37.1 |
53.8 |
|
| 1995 |
31.2 |
28.7 |
33.8 |
41.7 |
20.2 |
26.8 |
53.0 |
|
| 1996 |
30.1 |
26.5 |
33.7 |
42.0 |
17.6 |
28.4 |
36.0 |
|
| 1997 |
27.5 |
23.0 |
32.0 |
32.2 |
22.6 |
26.2 |
38.0 |
|
| 1998 |
23.4 |
19.2 |
27.7 |
31.1 |
15.4 |
24.2 |
22.9 |
|
| 1999 |
21.8 |
18.9 |
24.7 |
29.0 |
14.2 |
19.9 |
34.1 |
|
| 2000 |
15.3 |
14.3 |
16.3 |
21.0 |
9.4 |
14.0 |
22.8 |
|
| 2001 |
15.7 |
12.1 |
19.4 |
20.8 |
10.5 |
15.0 |
20.6 |
|
| 2002 |
11.1 |
8.0 |
14.4 |
12.9 |
9.2 |
10.4 |
16.5 |
|
| 2003 |
16.5 |
13.2 |
20.1 |
21.8 |
11.0 |
16.1 |
18.0 |
16.5 |
| 2004 |
11.9 |
10.4 |
13.5 |
15.6 |
7.9 |
13.4 |
17.5 |
3.5 |
| 2005 |
13.8 |
10.5 |
17.2 |
18.5 |
9.0 |
10.5 |
24.9 |
17.9 |
| 2006 |
15.2 |
14.2 |
16.2 |
14.3 |
16.2 |
15.0 |
18.8 |
12.3 |
| 2007 |
10.2 |
6.6 |
13.7 |
15.6 |
4.5 |
10.6 |
‡ |
12.6 |
| 2008 |
12.5 |
11.4 |
13.5 |
16.6 |
8.1 |
9.6 |
19.2 |
19.3 |
| 2009 |
11.1 |
8.6 |
13.4 |
14.9 |
7.1 |
10.2 |
18.3 |
‡ |
| 2010 |
7.2 |
7.3 |
7.0 |
9.0 |
5.3 |
6.7 |
14.0 |
‡ |
| 2011 |
8.5 |
7.4 |
9.5 |
9.6 |
7.3 |
6.9 |
17.8 |
9.0 |
| 2012 |
5.9 |
4.4 |
7.4 |
7.7 |
3.9 |
4.1 |
‡ |
9.0 |
| 2013 |
9.0 |
9.7 |
8.4 |
9.9 |
8.1 |
8.0 |
‡ |
10.7 |
| 2014 |
7.0 |
6.5 |
7.5 |
8.6 |
5.4 |
5.8 |
‡ |
7.6 |
| 2015 |
6.9 |
8.8 |
5.0 |
7.6 |
6.2 |
6.5 |
‡ |
‡ |
| 2016 |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
| 2017 |
8.0 |
8.0 |
8.1 |
11.9 |
4.1 |
10.2 |
‡ |
6.8 |
Note: Serious violent crimes include aggravated assault, rape, robbery, and homicide. Aggravated assault, rape, and robbery data are from the National Crime Victimization Survey and homicide data are from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Program. Homicide data for 2017 were not available; as such, the number of homicides for 2016 is included in the overall total for 2017. In 2016, homicides represented less than 1% of serious violent crime, and the total number of homicides of juveniles has been relatively stable over the last decade.
* Race data from 2003 onward are collected under the 1997 OMB Standards. Persons could select one or more of five racial groups and are not directly comparable with data from earlier years. Data on race and Hispanic origin are now collected separately.
** Due to methodological changes in the 2006 National Crime Victimization Survey, use caution when comparing 2006 criminal victimization estimates to other years.
‡ Reporting standards not met due to insufficient unweighted sample cases.
NA: Due to a sample increase and redesign in 2016, estimates in 2016 are not comparable to estimates for other years.
[ Graph version ]
[ CSV file ]
- The rate of serious violent victimization for youth ages 12-17 decreased 84% from 1993 to 2015. This decrease was followed by a 17% increase through 2017.
- After reaching a peak in 1991, the male victimization rate fell 78% by 2017, while the female rate in 2017 was 87% below its 1993 peak.
Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/victims/qa02501.asp?qaDate=2017.
Released on March 31, 2020.
Data source: Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics' America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being. [Table PHY6 located at http://www.childstats.gov/americaschildren/tables.asp]
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