In 2000, 28 percent of juvenile arrests were female. (4)

Females constituted 13 percent of all juvenile arrests in 1967. That rate increased to 25 percent in 1996. (3)

Girls were involved in one-third of all arrests of youths 13 to 15 years old in 2000, compared with one-quarter of arrests of younger and older juveniles. (4)

The majority of juvenile female arrests clustered around the ages of 15, 16 and 17, while juvenile male arrests were more common for 16- and 17-year olds. (3)

Arrest rates:

In 1980, the juvenile male violent crime rate was eight times greater than the female rate. By 1999, the male rate was just four times greater. (1)

Between 1980 and 1994, the male violent crime rate increased 50 percent, while the female rate increased 117 percent. (1)

By 1999, the male rate dropped 7 percent below its 1980 level, while the female violent crime rate was still 74 percent above its 1980 level. (1)

The female arrest rate peaked in 1993 at 63 percent above its 1980 level, whereas the male rate peaked at 129 percent above the 1980 rate. (1)

Both rates fell after 1993, so that by 1999, both arrest rates were substantially below their levels of the early 1980s. (1)

Between 1980 and 2000, the arrest rate for all offenses increased 35 percent for juvenile females and declined 11 percent for juvenile males. (4)

Since 1987, juvenile arrests have increased at a faster rate than those of juvenile males. (3)

Juvenile male arrest rates demonstrate a steady decline from 1974 until 1984, after which they remained relatively stable until 1996 when the gain declined. (3)

With the exception of 1974, juvenile female arrest data remained relatively stable until 1989 from which time they continued a slow, but steady upward pattern. (3)

While the juvenile male violent crime arrest rate increased 124 percent from 1967 to 1996, the juvenile female arrest rate nearly tripled that figure, 345 percent. (3)

The female juvenile arrest rate was 14 arrests for every 100,000 juvenile females. That rate increased to 64 arrests for every 100,000 juvenile females. (3)

Violent crimes:

In 1967, 9 percent of all arrests of male juveniles were for violent crimes, while the remaining 91 percent were for property crimes. (3)

In contrast, by 1996, 18 percent of these arrests were for violent crimes, while 82 percent were for property crimes. (3)

In 1967, 5 percent of all female juvenile arrests were for violent offenses. By 1996, that rate increased to 10 percent. (3)

Female percentage of juvenile arrests for violent crimes grew almost continuously from 10 percent in 1980 to 17 percent in 1999. (1)

Over the last two decades, the proportion of juvenile robbery arrests increased marginally from 7 percent in 1980 to 9 percent in 1999, while the female proportion of aggravated assault arrest grew substantially from 15 percent in 1980 to 22 percent in 1999. (1)

The female proportion of simple assault arrests also increased considerably from 21 percent in 1980 to 20 percent in 1999. (1)

The female arrest rate for aggravated assault in 1999 was almost double of its 1987 level, compared to male rate only increasing 25 percent in that time period. (1)

In regards to aggravated assault, the increase in the juvenile female arrest rate for simple assault from 1980 to 1999 far outpaced the increase in the male rate, 270 percent versus 120 percent. (1)

Property crimes:

In 1980, the juvenile male arrest rate for property crimes was four times the female rate; by 1999, the male rate was just twice the female rate. (1)

These two rates converged because the male rate declined 41 percent over this period while the female rate increased 8 percent. (1)

In 1980, 6 percent of juveniles arrested for burglary were female; by 1999, 11 percent were female. (1)

From 1980 to 1999, the male arrest rate for burglary declined 51 percent, while the female rate just dropped 12 percent. (1)

Homicides:

Between 1980 and 1997, the large majority (93 percent) of known juvenile homicide offenders were male. (2)

About 130 female juveniles were implicated in homicides in each year from 1980 to 1997. (2)

Fifty-four percent of male juvenile homicide offenders killed an acquaintance, 37 percent killed a stranger and 9 percent killed a family member. (2)

In comparison, the victims of female juveniles were more likely to be family members (39 percent) and far less likely to be strangers (15 percent). (2)

About 1 percent of male offenders killed persons under age 6, while 18 percent of the female offenders killed young children between 1980 and 1997. (2)

Annually between 1980 and 1997, about 25 male and 25 female juvenile offenders were tied to the death of a child under 6. (2)

During the 1980s and 1990s, the juvenile male arrest rate for murder was, on average, about 13 times greater than the female rate. (1)

Methods used in homicides:

Seventy-three percent of male juvenile homicide offenders used a firearm while 14 percent used a knife. (2)

In contrast, 41 percent of female juvenile homicide offenders used a firearm and 32 percent used a knife. (2)

While 27 percent of females used other means to kill (e.g., hands or feet, strangulation, drowning or fire), only 13 percent of males killed by these means. (2)

Injuries to victims:

Male and female juvenile offenders are about as likely to cause injuries to their victims. About 55 percent of victims of male offenders had no injuries, compared to 52 percent of victims of female offenders in 1997. (3)

Only 40 percent of victims of male offenders had apparent minor injuries, compared 45 percent of victims of female offenders in 1997. (3)

Demographics of victims:

Juvenile female offenders were likely to attack victimize another juvenile, 71 percent of cases. Adults were the victims of female juvenile offenders in 28 percent of incidents. The elderly were the victims in about 1 percent of the incidents. (3)

Juvenile male offenders were likely to attack victimize another juvenile, about 65 percent of cases. Adults were the victims of male juvenile offenders in about 34 percent of incidents. The elderly were the victims in about 2 percent of the incidents. (3)

When female juvenile offenders victimize another juvenile, they mostly victimize another female (83 percent). (3)

When male juvenile offenders victimize another juvenile, they mostly victimize another male (74 percent). (3)

Sources:

1. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, OJJDP National Report Series Bulletin, December 2001.

2. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Juvenile Offenders and Victims: 1999 National Report, Chapter 3.

3. U.S. Department of Justice, Uniform Crime Reports for the United States 1997, Juvenile Female Crime: A Special Study, Section V.

4. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Juvenile Justice Bulletin, November 2002, pg. 9.

Back to the Statistics Page

Home * Search This Site

Book Reviews * Legislation * Library * Media * Public Opinion Polls