Violent Crime Victimization

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), Serving Children, Families, and Communities

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Q:	What are the trends in serious violent crime victimization of youth?
A:	The serious violent victimization rate for juveniles ages 12-17 increased from 1985 to 1993 and then dropped substantially.

Serious violent victimizations per 1,000 juveniles in age group, 1980-2003

Serious violent victimizations per 1,000 juveniles ages 12-17, 1980-2003

Note: Serious violent crimes include aggravated assault, rape, robbery, and homicide. Aggravated assault, rape, and robbery data are from the National Crime Victimization Survey and homicide data are from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

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The rate of serious violent victimization for youth ages 12-17 in 2005 was about one-third the rate in 1993.
From 1980 through 2005, the serious violent crime victimization rate for youth age 15-17 averaged about 25% more than the rate for youth ages 12-14, the average rate for juvenile males was more than double the female rate, and the rate for black juveniles averaged 68% above the white rate.

Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/ojstatbb/victims/qa02501.asp?qaDate=2005. Released on September 12, 2008.

Data source: Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics' America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2007. [Table PHY5 located at http://www.childstats.gov/americaschildren/tables.asp]