NCJ Number
88822
Date Published
1983
Length
111 pages
Annotation
Serious juvenile crime has remained stable or declined over the last 8 years, according to victimization data from the National Crime Survey from 1973 to 1980.
Abstract
For the personal crimes of rape, robbery, assault, and personal larceny, the rate of offending by juveniles showed a steady declining pattern from 1973 to 1980 in the United States as a whole as well as in metropolitan areas and areas with 1,000,000 or more residents. In 1980, the rate of juvenile offending for personal crimes was 4,388 per 100,000 juveniles, 6,550 per 100,000 juveniles in urban areas, and 8,350 per 100,000 juveniles in places with 1,000,000 or more residents. Juveniles committed a substantial proportion of personal larcenies, while adults committed most rapes. In 1980, juveniles committed 6 percent of the rapes, 16 percent of the robberies, 17 percent of the aggravated assaults, 19 percent of the simple assaults, and 20 percent of the personal larcenies. In 63 percent of the cases, juveniles committed the crimes alone rather than in groups. They used weapons in 29 percent of the personal crimes in 1980. Victims received injuries requiring medical attention in 14 percent of the cases. The total dollar loss was $10 or more in 14 percent of the personal crimes committed by juvenile offenders in 1980. Juvenile crime does not appear to be more serious currently than it was 8 years ago at the national level. Data tables, notes, appendixes presenting data collection instruments and additional results, and 46 references are provided.