NCJ Number
197349
Date Published
October 2000
Length
115 pages
Annotation
This report provides data about Massachusetts’ juvenile population, mainly focusing on juvenile crime statistics.
Abstract
According to this report, during the year 2000 there were approximately 6,200,000 juveniles in the State of Massachusetts. Youths aged 19 years and younger make up 27 percent of the population of this State. Statistics are provided for the rates of school attendance, teen pregnancies, unemployment among juveniles, and child abuse and neglect. The remainder of the first section of this report then turns to data concerning rates of juvenile crime, including youth drug and alcohol use, gang involvement, teen dating violence, and teen use of weapons. The second section of the report turns to data about juveniles in the justice system. Statistics are offered for the numbers of juveniles processed in Massachusetts’ courts, juveniles who are on probation, and juveniles who are committed to the Department of Youth Services. The third section of the report provides data on law enforcement and juvenile crime. This data includes the arrest rates of juveniles in Massachusetts, as well as a breakdown of juvenile crime rates by county for the year 1998. Data in this section is classified by type of crime, such as violent, property, and drug arrest rates. Statistics are also offered for specific crimes such as driving under the influence, disorderly conduct, and liquor law violations. Finally, this report offers an analysis of the data that has been reported by Massachusetts law enforcement. This section presents more statistical data accompanied by a small amount of narrative about the data. Information is offered concerning gender and race of juvenile offenders in Massachusetts, their ages, and the disposition of their cases. Information is also provided about the victims of juvenile crime, including victim age and injury sustained by the victim. In conclusion, the report notes that the majority of crimes committed by juveniles in Massachusetts are not committed against individuals, but are committed against property. The data contained in this report, therefore, has important implications for policy initiatives. Figures, tables, appendix