Overall Decrease in Juvenile Arrests
Roughly 2.11 million juveniles were arrested in 2008 for various offenses. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR), this figure translated to an overall reduction of juvenile arrests by three percent as compared to the same period in 2007 (Puzzanchera, 2009). While the violent crime arrests were found to be increasing in 2005 and 2006, the report shows that arrests of individuals under age 18 involved in violent crime are on a downward trend, with violent crime arrests in 2008 being two percent lower than in 2007. Even though the total number of arrests is lowest in 2004, the crime index report shows that the arrests of violent crimes reported in 2008 are relatively low, only surpassing the overall average by three percent.
Drug Offences and Simple Assaults
Even though the crime statistics show that there is an overall reduction in juvenile arrests over the study period, there is an upward trend in arrests of juveniles involved in simple crimes and drug offenses. There is an upward trend in the number of juveniles arrested for larceny-theft. In 2008, the number of persons under age 18 arrested for robbery was 46% higher than in 2004 (Puzzanchera, 2009). The number of juvenile arrests for simple assaults increased from 1980 to reach its peak in 1996, and it then reduced a little in 2002 before slightly raising again in 2006 then reduced in 2007 and 2008. Juvenile arrests for drug offenses rose from 1990 to reach its peak in 1997. It then reduced to 2002, rose slightly between 2003 and 2006 and reduced in 2008.
Implications on Female, Ethnic and Racial Minority Juveniles
Female juveniles comprised of 30% of all the arrests of persons under age 18 in 2008. This translated to approximately 629,800 females who were below age 18 got arrested by the law enforcers. The report shows that the arrests of female juveniles are increasing while the arrests of their counterpart male juvenile are reducing. The racial composition of juvenile arrests for all crimes in 2008 was 47% Caucasian, 52% African Americans, 1% Asian/Pacific Islanders and 1% Native Americans (Puzzanchera, 2009). However, juveniles of Hispanic ethnicity were included in the white ethnicity category. The racial disparity for arrests of black juveniles reduced between the 1990s and 2004 before rising slightly again in 2008 because of the reduction in the arrests of white juveniles over the same period.
The Increase in Arrests of Juvenile Females and The Decrease in Arrests of Male Juvenile Offenders for Violent Crimes
Although the number of male juveniles is higher than the arrests of juvenile female arrests, the crime index report shows that the number of juvenile female arrests is increasing in most crimes. The arrests of male juveniles increased only by 0.6 percent between 2004 and 2008 compared to an increase of 5.1% recorded in the arrests of juvenile females reported during the same period (Puzzanchera, 2009). While the arrests of male juveniles continued to be higher than their female counterparts, there is a significant reduction in the arrests of male juveniles than female juveniles most crimes, particularly in burglary and aggravated assaults. Consequently, the number of arrests of juvenile females in crimes such as disorderly conduct and simple assault increased while it reduced in their male counterparts.
An Assessment of Tracking Juvenile Arrests as a Method of Measuring the Amount of and Trends in Juvenile Crime
The FBI’s UCR compiles a report from data collected from the reports of local law enforcers across the country. The report usually summarizes the crimes reported to the different law enforcement agencies during a particular reporting year. The crime statistics report is used as a point of reference by the justice professionals and other relevant stakeholders when determining the trends in juvenile crime. Consequently, the report is used in reducing juvenile delinquency by determining the extent or nature of crimes committed by juveniles that get reported.
Reference
Puzzanchera, C. (2009). Juvenile arrests 2008. Juvenile Justice Bulletin.
