Public policy in the last two decades was driven by concerns about the rise in juvenile violence

Between 1980 and 1988, the juvenile Violent Crime Index arrest rate was essentially constant. After these years of stability, the rate grew by more than 60% in the 6-year period between 1988 and 1994. This unsettling and rapid growth triggered speculation about changes in the nature of juvenile offenders—concerns that spurred State legislators to pass laws that facilitated an increase in the flow of these youth into the adult justice system. After 1994, however, the violent crime arrest rate fell. In the 5 years between 1994 and 1999, the rate fell more than 50%, to just about the average of the early 1980s.

After a decade of substantial growth and decline, the 1999 juvenile violent crime arrest rate returned to the level of the 1980s Violent Crime Index arrest rate trends by gender and race Data source: Analysis of arrest data from the FBI and population data from the U.S. Bureau of the Census. [See arrest rate data source note for details.]

In 1980, the juvenile male violent crime arrest rate was eight times greater than the female rate. By 1999, the male rate was just four times greater. This convergence of male and female arrest rates is due to the large relative increase in the female rate. Between 1980 and 1994, the male rate increased 50%, while the female rate increased 117%. By 1999, the male rate had dropped to 7% below its 1980 level, while the female violent crime arrest rate was still 74% above its 1980 level.

All racial groups experienced large increases in their juvenile violent crime arrest rates in the late 1980s and early 1990s, followed by declines through 1999. However, the fall was more precipitous for black juveniles. The black rate in 1999 was 25% below its 1980 level, while the white and American Indian rates in 1999 were still about 30% above their 1980 levels.

Law Enforcement and Juvenile Crime	OJJDP National Report Series Bulletin December 2001