Facts to Consider: Presentation to the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Howard N. Snyder National Center for Juvenile Justice Washington, DC, September 8, 2006

Mental Health Concerns

Between 1981 and 2001, juveniles were about as likely to be a suicide victim as a murder victim

Between 1981 and 2001, the juvenile suicide rate varied greatly by state

Between 1981 and 2001, juvenile suicide victims outnumbered juvenile murder victims in 33 states

Life Style Changes

Living in a disadvantaged community strongly influences a youth’s risk of victimization

The annual birth rate for females ages 15–19 declined between 1950 and 2000, while the proportion of births to unmarried females rose

Living in a two-parent family may protect a youth from the effects of a disadvantaged community

Violent crime by juvenile offenders peaks in the after-school hours on school days

The Level of Juvenile Violence

The juvenile Violent Crime Index arrest rate was lower in 2004 than in any year since at least 1980

The juvenile arrest rate for murder in 2004 was 77% below the peak 1993 rate; to return to 1993 levels, it would have to increase by 330%

Increases in Violence by Juvenile Females

The growth in the juvenile violent crime arrest rate was greater for females than males

The decline in the juvenile murder arrest rate was similar for females and males

The decline in the juvenile arrest rate for robbery was similar for males and females

The juvenile arrest rate for burglary declined for both males and females

The arrest rate trends for motor vehicle theft were similar for males and females

The trend in juvenile arrest rate for drug abuse violations was similar for males and females

But the growth in the aggravated assault arrest rate was proportionately greater for juvenile females

And the growth in simple assault arrest rates was proportionately greater for juvenile females

And the growth in weapon arrest rates was considerably greater for juvenile females