Juvenile Crime and Punishment. Causes of Youth Violence Complex interplay of factors Correlations, not predictions Accumulation of risk Number of resources.
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Juvenile Crime and Juvenile Crime and PunishmentPunishment
Causes of Youth Causes of Youth ViolenceViolence
Complex interplay of factors
Correlations, not predictions
Accumulation of risk
Number of resources
The Development of The Development of DelinquencyDelinquency
Individual-level risk factorsSocial factorsCommunity factorsNeighborhood factors
The system ...…..The system ...….. founded on the principle of hope
designed to help youth overcome criminal tendencies
focused on rehabilitation, not punishment
based on the assumption that youth are not fully
responsible for their actions
Informal proceedings A high level of court discretion Judge acting “in the child’s best interest” Closed court proceedings
Confidential records
Charged as “delinquents” not “criminals”
Found “delinquent” not “guilty”
No imprisonment, training schools and reformatories
It is a system ...It is a system ...…..…..
The Juvenile Justice and The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, Delinquency Prevention Act,
1992 1992 Limits placement of juveniles in adult facilities
Jail removal requirement: they shall not be detained
or confined in any institution in which they have contact
with adult(s) incarcerated because they have been
convicted of a crime or are awaiting trial on criminal
charges
The Juvenile Justice and The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act Delinquency Prevention Act
Exempt are juveniles held in secure
facilities if the juvenile is being tried as a
criminal for a felony or has been convicted
as a criminal felon.
The Juvenile Justice and The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act Delinquency Prevention Act
Sight and Sound Separation: In
institutions other than adult jails or lockups,
confinement is permitted if the juvenile and
adult inmates cannot see each other and no
conversation between them is possible.
The Juvenile Justice and The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act Delinquency Prevention Act
Requires that states determine whether the
proportion of minorities in confinement exceeds
the proportion in the general state population. If
such over representation is found, states must
implement efforts to reduce it.
Sources of Crime Sources of Crime DataData
Arrest RatesVictim ReportsSelf-report Data
Outlining the problemOutlining the problem
In 1997 2.8 million arrests were made of persons <18
years
In 1997 juveniles accounted for 19% or all arrests and
17% of violent crime arrests
In 1997, despite a recent 4 year decline, violent crime
arrests were 49% higher than in 1988
A perplexing phenomenon...A perplexing phenomenon...
The number of juvenile arrests for murder decreased
39% from 1993 to 1997
The number of juvenile arrest for other violent crimes
has also declined
And, these decreases are occurring despite continuing
growth in the juvenile population!
Violent Crimes…...Violent Crimes…... Where do they occur?
What types of crimes?
Who commits them?
How are the committed?
When are they committed?
Geographic Geographic ConcentrationConcentration
85% of the 3,141 counties in the U.S. reported no
juvenile homicide offenders in 1997.
8% reported only one offender
In contrast, 25% of all known juvenile homicide
offenders were reported in just FIVE counties that
contain the following cities: LA, Chicago, New York,
Philadelphia, and Detroit.
Figure 1: Delinquency Cases Processed in Juvenile Court, 1987-1996
Murders and Murders and HomicidesHomicides
1,700 juveniles were implicated in 2,300
murders in 1997 (12% of all murders)
Males were responsible for most of the
growth in homicides by juveniles from
the mid-1980s through 1994.
Juvenile Murderers: Males offenders Juvenile Murderers: Males offenders vs. Female Offenders 1980-1997vs. Female Offenders 1980-1997
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1995 1996 1997
Nu
mb
er o
f K
no
wn
Ju
ven
ile
Mu
rder
ers
Males
Females
Number of Juvenile Murderers by Age Number of Juvenile Murderers by Age Group 1980-1997Group 1980-1997
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996
Nu
mb
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f K
no
wn
Ju
ven
ile
Mu
rder
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Age 17
Age 16
Age 15
Age 14 orYounger
Denver, Rochester, and Denver, Rochester, and Pittsburgh StudiesPittsburgh Studies
Age and gender differences
Juvenile Homicide Offenders by Race Juvenile Homicide Offenders by Race 1980-19971980-1997
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
Nu
mb
er o
f K
no
wn
Ju
ven
ile
Off
end
ers
Black
White
Who were the victims?Who were the victims?Most victims were male (85%), slightly more
were black (49%) than white (48%), and 11%
of victims were below the age of 18.
In 1997, 11% of victims were family members,
56% were acquaintances, and 34% were
strangers
Homicides by Juveniles by Homicides by Juveniles by Offender’s Relationship to Victim Offender’s Relationship to Victim
1980-1997 1980-1997
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
19
80
19
81
19
82
19
83
19
84
19
85
19
86
19
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19
88
19
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19
90
19
91
19
92
19
93
19
94
19
95
19
96
19
97N
um
ber
of
Kn
ow
n J
uve
nil
e O
ffen
der
s
Acquaintance
Stranger
Family
Type of CrimeType of Crime
In 1997, fifty-six percent of victims of
juvenile homicides were killed with a
firearm, 29% decline from 1995
Homicides by JuvenilesHomicides by Juvenilesby Weapon Used 1980-1997by Weapon Used 1980-1997
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
19
80
19
81
19
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19
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19
84
19
85
19
86
19
87
19
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19
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19
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19
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19
92
19
93
19
94
19
95
19
96
19
97
Nu
mb
er o
f Ju
ven
ile
Off
end
ers
Firearm
No Firearm
1997 1997 Youth Risk Behavior Youth Risk Behavior SurveySurvey
9% of high school students had carried a weapon on
school property in the past month
In a year, 7% of high school kids were threatened or
injured with a weapon at school
Fear of school-related violence kept 4% of high school
kids home at least once in the past month
What type of crimes do What type of crimes do juveniles commit?juveniles commit?
5.38 % violent crime (murder, rape, robbery,
and aggravated assault)
26.80% property crime (burglary, arson, theft)
67.82% other crimes (top categories are
vandalism, prostitution, DWI, liquor law
violations, drug possession/abuse)
Prevalence of Prevalence of crimes by juvenilescrimes by juveniles
Most of the data are provided by the Office of Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention and relate to ARREST RATES
Prevalence of crimes by Prevalence of crimes by juvenilesjuveniles
While juveniles below age 13 were involved in only 9% of all juvenile arrests, these very young juveniles were involved in a higher proportions of the following
crimes: arson (35%), nonviolent sex offense (18%), larceny-theft (15%), simple
assault (13%), burglary (12%), and forcible rape (11%).
Prevalence of crimes by Prevalence of crimes by juvenilesjuveniles
Black youth made up 15% of the juvenile population in 1997 but they were involved in
28% of all juvenile arrests. Black youth were disproportionately involved in juvenile
arrests for murder (56%), forcible rape (45%), robbery (60%), aggravated assault (42%), motor vehicle theft (38%), fraud
(42%), and gambling (77%).
Time of Day Juvenile Violent Time of Day Juvenile Violent Crimes Are CommittedCrimes Are Committed
Percent of all juvenile Violent Crime Index Offenses
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
6AM 9AM 12PM 3PM 6PM 9PM 12AM 3AM 6AM
Pe
rce
nt
of
Off
en
se
s School DaysNon-School Days
Time of Day Juvenile Gang Time of Day Juvenile Gang Crimes Are CommittedCrimes Are Committed
Percent of all juvenile gang crimes
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
6AM 9AM 12PM 3PM 6PM 9PM 12AM 3AM 6AM
Pe
rce
nt
of
Ga
ng
Cri
me
s
School Days
Non-School Days
When are violent crimes When are violent crimes likely to be committed?likely to be committed?
Juveniles are more likely to commit violent crimes on school days than on
non-school days, and directly after school than at any other time of day.
Rate of Growth in Rate of Growth in Juvenile CrimeJuvenile Crime
While changing little between 1973-1989, the rate at which juveniles committed violent crimes
increased nearly 70% from 1987 to 1994--then declined and returned to the 1989 level in 1995 and then continued to decline through 1997.
The Good NewsThe Good NewsSerious violent crimes by juveniles dropped
25% between 1994-1995 and has continued to
drop since then.
Most encouraging is the nearly 20% decline in
murders by juveniles between 1993-1995
The Good NewsThe Good News
In 1997, juvenile homicides were
the lowest in the decade but still
21% above the average of the
1980s
Violent Crimes Committed Violent Crimes Committed by Juveniles 1973-1997by Juveniles 1973-1997
Victimizations by juveniles per 100,000 persons aged 10-17
(Includes rape, sexual assault, robbery & aggravated assault w/ victims aged12+)
0500
100015002000250030003500400045005000
1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1996 1997
Violent Crimes
Juvenile Arrest Rate for Juvenile Arrest Rate for Forcible Rape 1975-1997Forcible Rape 1975-1997
Arrests per 100,000 juveniles ages 10-17
0
5
10
15
20
25
1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1996 1997
Juvenile Arrest Rate
Juvenile Arrest Rate for Juvenile Arrest Rate for Robbery 1975-1997Robbery 1975-1997
Arrests per 100,000 juveniles ages 10-17
0
50
100
150
200
250
1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997
Juvenile Arrest Rate
Juvenile Arrest Rate for Juvenile Arrest Rate for Aggravated Assault 1975-Aggravated Assault 1975-
19971997Arrests per 100,000 juveniles ages 10-17
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997
Juvenile Arrest Rate
However…….However…….
While the wave of juvenile violence has subsided somewhat this is not to say that we
have solved the problem of juvenile crime. The current level of juvenile violence is still at an
unacceptable level
What happened in What happened in 1995?1995?
For the first time in 8 years the juvenile violent
crime arrest rate declined in 1995.
A substantial drop of 17% over 1994 numbers!
Nearly all the decline was in homicides was by
black juvenile males
Nearly all the decline was in fire-arm related
homicides
What happened in What happened in 1995?1995?
Nearly all the decline from 1994 to 1995
was in arrests for younger juveniles (-2%
for 15-17 year olds, -5% for younger
juveniles)
Trend Continued Through Trend Continued Through 19971997
By 1997, the juvenile violent crime arrest rate was at its lowest level in the 1990s
In 1997, both the male and female juvenile violent crime arrest rate decreased since 1995
The violent crime arrest rates for very young juveniles (10-12) also declined from 1994-1997.
State ResponsesState Responses
Study by the National Center of Juvenile Justice
(1992-1997)
Change in the Juvenile Change in the Juvenile Justice SystemJustice System
to punish, hold accountable, and incarcerate for longer periods of time
those juveniles who, by history or type of offense, passed a threshold of tolerated
juvenile law violating behavior.
State Changes to:State Changes to:jurisdictional authority (juvenile to
criminal court)sentencing authority (new sentencing
options)confidentiality (removal of traditional
confidentiality provisions)victim's rights (increased the role of
victims in court hearings)
Changes to sentencing Changes to sentencing options:options:
judicial waivers (waive juvenile court
jurisdiction)
prosecutor discretion (at the will of state
prosecutor)
legislative exclusion (state statutes exclude
certain juvenile offenders from juvenile court
jurisdiction)
Juvenile Court Processing of Delinquency Cases, 1996
Delinquency Cases Waived to Criminal Court, 1987-1996
From 1992 - 1997 all but 5 states enacted or expanded provisions for transferring juveniles from juvenile court jurisdiction to criminal court
for prosecution.
A trend away from traditional juvenile dispositions is emerging, and "blended sentencing” options at the
state level are creating a middle-ground between traditional juvenile
and adult sanctions
As many states have shifted away from rehabilitation and toward punishment, accountability, and public safety. The emerging trend is one of dispositions based on the offense. Retribution and deterrence have replaced rehabilitation
as the primary juvenile justice goals
Problems that might force the Problems that might force the issue:issue:
many more juveniles are being held in crowded
secure public facilities in 1997 than in 1991
crowding in juvenile facilities (detention
facilities, training schools) has increased as the
juvenile custody population has grown.
in 1997 half of all public detention centers were
operating above their design capacity.
Problems that might force the Problems that might force the issue:issue:
Minority youth (10-17 years) are over
represented in custody facilities. In 1997 they
made up 34% of the population as a whole, but
62% of the detention population.
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