Juvenile Crime Statistics Paper

Juvenile Crime Statistics Paper University of Phoenix CJA374 May 10, 2011 Juvenile Crime Statistics Paper This paper will address and summarize four different points from the juvenile arrests bulletin from 2001. Such points included in the summary are the overall decrease in juvenile arrests, the increase in drug offenses and simple assaults, implications for juvenile females and minorities, and last an assessment of the tracking of juvenile arrests as a method of measuring the amount of and trends in juvenile crime.In 2001 the juvenile violent crime index arrest rate declined for the seventh consecutive year.

The rate increased dramatically from the late 1980’s through 1994 and then began its steady downward trend. By 2001 the rate had fallen 44% from its 1994 peak reaching the lowest level since 1983. Moving on to the increase in drug offences and simple assaults, arrests of juveniles accounted for 12% of all violent crimes cleared by arrest in 2001 specially, 5% of murders, 12% of forcible rapes, 14% of robberies, and 12% of aggravated assaults.The drug offences in juvenile arrests have increased. In 2001 the estimated arrests for drug violations were 202,500 this is one of the highest numbers in the estimates for 2001. Moving on from drug offences and simple assaults to implications for juvenile females and minorities this is also an issue that seems to be growing by the year.

Law enforcement agencies made 645,000 estimated arrests of females under the age of 18 in 2001, between 1992 and 2001 the arrests of juvenile females generally increased more than the male category.The racial composition of the juvenile population in 2001 was 78% white, 17% black, 4% Asian/ Pacific Islander, and 1% American Indian. Most Hispanics were classified as white in contrast to their representation in the population, black youth were overrepresented in juvenile arrests for violent crimes, and to a lesser extent, property crimes of all juvenile for violent crimes 55% involved white youth, 43% involved black youth, 1% involved Asian youth, 1% involved American Indian youth. The racial composition of juvenile population in 2001 was 78% white, 17% black, 4% Asian/pacific islander, and 1% American Indian.

Most Hispanics (an ethnic designation, not a race) were classified as white. Black youth were overrepresented in juvenile arrests for violent crimes. All juvenile arrests for violent crimes break down like this 55% involved white youth, 43% involved black youth, 1% involved Asian youth, and 1% involved American Indian youth. Assessment of tracking juvenile arrests and crime is important to know so the government knows what laws are working and what laws need to be revised. Murder arrests in 2001 were near their lowest levels since at least 1980 for both white and black youth.

Between 1993 and 2001, murder rates for white juveniles declined 62% while the rate for black juveniles declined 79%. In 2001 the robbery arrests rates for both black youth and white youth were at a 20 year low. The 2001 aggravated assault arrest rate for black juveniles was much closer to its 1980 level than was the rate for white juveniles. The juvenile arrest rates for weapons violations and murder more than doubled between 1987 and the peak year 1993.

After 1993 both rates fell substantially the juvenile arrest rate for weapons law violations was cut in half falling 49% and returning to the 1987 level.Between 1980 and 1993 the juvenile arrest rate for drug abuse violations remained within a limited range. Between 1993 and 1997 however the rate grew 77% by 2001 the rate had fallen 16% from its 1997 high. During the period from 1992 to 2001 juvenile arrest for drug abuse violations increased 121%, while adult arrests grew 33%. The juvenile arrest rate for simple assault increased substantially between the early 19800’s and the late 1990’s more than 150% between 1983 and 1997. The rate fell 7% between 1997 and 2001 remaining in 2001 near its historically high levels.

The juvenile arrest rate for vandalism rose 44% between 1982 and 1994. Between 1994 and 2001 the rate declined 37% erasing all the earlier growth and falling to its lowest level since at least 1980. In conclusion to the juvenile arrest report for 2001 key points were addressed for better understandings of juvenile laws. Minorities and females also play a big part in each area of juvenile law breaking.

The increased drug offences and simple arrests were also summarized for better understanding. REFERENCES References Snyder, H. N. (2003).

Juvenile Arrest 2001. Retrieved from www. usdoj. gov/ojjdp