Juvenile Crime & Punishment

Scales of Justice

Many in society view juvenile offenders in a negative light. A common perception is that they are responsible for an ever-growing number of violent crimes. According to the Juvenile Offenders and Victims 2006 National Report, published by the National Center for Juvenile Justice, the juvenile Violent Crime Index is now below 1980s levels.

History

The punishment for young offenders, including children as young as 7, was severe in the 18th century. Young offenders were tried and sentenced under the same laws as adults. Child offenders were incarcerated with adult offenders. In the decades that followed, many reforms were passed, including the creation of juvenile courts and juvenile incarceration facilities. For the majority of the 20th century, juvenile courts sought to "rehabilitate" young offenders.

Calls for leniency changed to calls for harsher punishment in the last two decades of the 20th century. The increase was due to perceived increases in juvenile, violent crime. States increased the penalties for crimes, reclassified some crimes so they were handled by the adult justice system and created mandatory sentences for certain crimes.

Youth Offender Characteristics

The Juvenile Offenders and Victims 2006 National Report provides characteristics of the most likely juvenile offenders. The majority of youthful offenders have problems in school or at home. Most of these problems are self-reported. Thirty-three percent of youths under the age of 17 admitted to being suspended from school on at least one occasion; 18 percent left home without parental permission or knowledge; and 8 percent admitted to a gang affiliation.

Crimes

The Juvenile Offenders and Victims 2006 National Report contends crimes committed by youths living in the United States continue to shape public perception in a negative manner. In 2003, 2.2 million youths under the age of 18 were arrested in the United States. Sixty-eight percent of these youths were 16 to 17 years old.

In 2002, youths were responsible for 8 percednt of all murders. In 52 percent of these cases, the youth acted alone; in 9 percent, the youth acted with one or more underage individuals. In 39 percent of the murders, the youth acted in conjunction with an adult under the age of 25.

In 2003, approximately half of all juvenile crimes were less serious in nature. These crimes included drug violations, simple assault, larceny-theft, disorderly conduct and liquor law violations.

Race

Historically, a huge disparity has existed in terms of the race for juvenile offenders in the judicial system. In the late 1980s, the ratio of arrests between black and white juveniles was 6-to-1. By 2003, the ratio fell to 4-to-1. In 2003, black juveniles accounted for 63 percent of juvenile arrests for robbery. They accounted for 48 percent of juvenile arrests for murder; 40 percent of arrests for car theft and 38 percent of all juvenile arrests for aggravated assault.

Sex

Data from the Juvenile Offenders and Victims 2006 National Report show that in 2003, females accounted for 29 percent of all juvenile arrests. Female juvenile offenders are more likely to be arrested for prostitution or running away from home than any other crime. They are 10 percent more likely to commit their crimes alone. Between 1980 and 2003, female arrests for more serious crimes, including aggravated assault, burglary, larceny-theft, vandalism and car theft, increased.

Incarceration

Between 1991 and 2003, the number of youths incarcerated in public and private facilities increased by 28 percent. In 2003, 18 percent of incarcerated juveniles were held in state facilities and 23 percent were held in local facilities. The majority however, 59 percent, were held in private juvenile detention facilities.

References

• Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention: Juvenile Offenders and Victims 2006 National Report

Resources

• Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention: Statistical Briefing Book