• From 1987 to 1994, aggravated assault arrest rates for male and female juveniles rose substantially and then fell through 2007. The female rate, however, rose more (114% vs. 72%) and then fell far less (27% vs. 44%) than the male rate.
• As a result, in 2007, the male juvenile arrest rate was just 8% above its 1980 level, while the female rate was 83% above its 1980 rate.
• The disproportionate increase in female arrest rates for aggravated assault compared with male rates indicates that the rates were affected by factors that impinged differently on females and males. One possible explanation may be found in policy changes over this period that encourage arrests in domestic violence incidents.

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Internet Citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available:
http://ojjdp.ncjrs.org/ojstatbb/crime/JAR_Display.asp?ID=qa05235. October 24, 2008.

Adapted from Puzzanchera, C. Juvenile Arrests 2007 [Forthcoming]. Washington, D.C.: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

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