Trends in Juvenile Criminal Behavior in the United States, 1973-1981 - A Summary of the Major Findings

• NCJ Number: 91027
• Date Published: Unknown
• Length: 27 pages
• Grant Number(s): 82-JN-AX-0005
• Sponsoring Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
• Corporate Author: Northeastern University; Hindelang Criminal Justice Research Ctr
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Analysis of National Crime Survey Victimization Data to Study Serious Delinquent Behavior - Phase 2

Annotation

Contrary to popular belief, that rate of juvenile offending in total personal crimes, violent crimes, and theft crimes declined over the period between 1973 and 1981.

Abstract

National Crime Survey victimization data formed the basis of an examination of national trends in the criminal behavior of juveniles, youthful offenders, and adults for the personal crimes of rape, robbery, assault, and personal larceny. The age of the offender was generally strongly related to the age of the victim. Juvenile offenders most often victimized other juveniles and had low rates of offending in personal crimes against the elderly. Male juveniles were twice as likely as females to be victims of personal crimes by juveniles. White juvenile offenders generally victimized whites, whereas black juvenile offenders victimized whites in 65 percent of the personal crimes. Offenses by strangers were more likely when the victim was male, older, and of a different race than the offender. The data fail to support current proposals for widespread sweeping changes, based on the belief that serious juvenile crime is continually increasing and becoming rampant. Notes and 35 references are provided.