While the shocking statistic that teenagers account for over a quarter of all violent crime arrests might suggest a youth crime wave, a deeper look at the data reveals a complex story of age, crime, and profound societal change.
Key Takeaways
- In 2019, juveniles aged 10-17 accounted for 28.3% of all arrests for violent crimes in the United States
- The juvenile arrest rate for property crimes dropped 65% from 1996 to 2019, from 2,500 to 850 per 100,000 youth aged 10-17
- In 2020, 52% of juvenile arrests involved males aged 13-17 for drug abuse violations
- Ages 18-24 year olds accounted for 27% of all arrests in 2019, higher than any other adult age group
- Violent crime arrest rates peaked at 650 per 100,000 for ages 18-24 in 2019
- In 2020, 18-24 year olds comprised 40% of homicide offenders arrested
- Ages 25-34 accounted for 25% of violent crime arrests in 2019, second to 18-24
- Homicide arrest rates for 25-29 year olds were 15 per 100,000 in 2020
- In 2019, aggravated assault arrests peaked again at 25-34 with 350 per 100,000
- Offenders aged 50 and over accounted for 13% of arrests in 2019, up from 8% in 1990
- Homicide arrests for 50-64 year olds rose 25% from 2010-2020, to 8 per 100,000
- In 2019, seniors 65+ had DUI arrest rates of 120 per 100,000, increasing 40% since 2000
- Persons aged 12-17 experienced violent victimization at 19.4 per 1,000 in 2021
- Adults 18-24 had highest violent victimization rate 25.6 per 1,000 in 2019
- Elderly 65+ violent victimization low at 4.2 per 1,000 in 2021
While crime peaks in young adults, juvenile arrests have dropped significantly across decades.
Adult Offending
- Ages 25-34 accounted for 25% of violent crime arrests in 2019, second to 18-24
- Homicide arrest rates for 25-29 year olds were 15 per 100,000 in 2020
- In 2019, aggravated assault arrests peaked again at 25-34 with 350 per 100,000
- Drug trafficking arrests highest for ages 25-34 at 800 per 100,000 in 2019
- Rape and sexual assault offending rates stable at 40 per 100,000 for 30-34 in 2019 NCVS
- In 2021, 28% of burglary arrests were ages 25-34
- Larceny arrests declined to 900 per 100,000 for 25-29 in 2019 from 1,500 in 2000
- DUI arrests peaked at ages 25-34 with 450 per 100,000 in 2020
- Fraud offending rates highest for 35-44 but 25-34 second at 200 per 100,000 NCVS 2019
- In 2019, 32% of robbery arrests involved 25-34 year olds
- Domestic violence arrests for males 25-34 were 300 per 100,000 in 2018
- Weapons charges arrests 250 per 100,000 for 30-34 in 2019
- In 2020, 26% of motor vehicle theft arrests ages 25-34
- Embezzlement arrests highest at 25-34 with 150 per 100,000 in 2019
- Forgery and counterfeiting peaked for 25-34 at 100 per 100,000
- In 2019, sex trafficking arrests 20% for ages 25-34
- Cyber fraud convictions highest for 28-35 year olds in 2021, 18% of total
- In 2018, 30% of gang homicides offenders aged 25-34
- Stolen property arrests 180 per 100,000 for 25-34 in 2019
- Arson arrests declined 50% for 25-34 from 2000-2019
- Vandalism rates lower for 35-44 but still 150 per 100,000 in 2019
- In 2021, opioid distribution arrests 25% ages 25-34
- Prostitution arrests shifted to 25-34 females 40% in 2019
- In 2019, 22% of child abuse arrests were parents aged 25-34
- Elder financial exploitation by 25-44 offenders 35% of cases in 2018
- Ages 35-49 had 20% of violent arrests in 2019
Adult Offending Interpretation
It seems that if one's twenties are for experimenting, the late twenties and early thirties are when many unfortunately decide to specialize.
Age Victimization
- Persons aged 12-17 experienced violent victimization at 19.4 per 1,000 in 2021
- Adults 18-24 had highest violent victimization rate 25.6 per 1,000 in 2019
- Elderly 65+ violent victimization low at 4.2 per 1,000 in 2021
- In 2020, children under 12 were 60% of sexual assault victims
- Homicide victimization peak at ages 18-24 with 20 per 100,000 in 2020
- Property victimization highest for 12-17 at 150 per 1,000 households in 2019
- In 2021, 25-34 year olds reported robbery victimization at 2.5 per 1,000
- Elderly financial fraud victims 65+ lost $3B in 2021
- Simple assault victimization 35 per 1,000 for 18-24 in 2019
Age Victimization Interpretation
The data paints a grim portrait: youth are most at risk for raw violence, young adults for homicide, the elderly for financial predation, and tragically, our children for sexual assault—proving that crime, much like a terrible buffet, serves a different kind of misery for every age group.
Juvenile Delinquency
- In 2019, juveniles aged 10-17 accounted for 28.3% of all arrests for violent crimes in the United States
- The juvenile arrest rate for property crimes dropped 65% from 1996 to 2019, from 2,500 to 850 per 100,000 youth aged 10-17
- In 2020, 52% of juvenile arrests involved males aged 13-17 for drug abuse violations
- Juveniles under 18 comprised 8.4% of murder arrests in 2018, with peak at age 17 (15 per 100,000)
- From 2008 to 2018, simple assault arrests for juveniles aged 10-17 fell 71%, to 140 per 100,000
- In 2019, 15-year-olds had the highest referral rate to juvenile court at 120 per 1,000 for delinquency cases
- Black juveniles aged 10-17 were arrested for robbery at 5 times the rate of white juveniles in 2019 (180 vs 35 per 100,000)
- Juvenile violent crime index arrests decreased 75% from peak in 1994 to 2019 levels
- In 2021, 62% of juvenile court cases involved males aged 12-17 for person offenses
- Larceny-theft arrests for ages 10-17 dropped to 320 per 100,000 in 2019 from 1,800 in 1996
- In 2018, 17-year-olds accounted for 45% of juvenile homicide offenders
- Juvenile burglary arrest rates fell 85% from 1994 to 2019 for ages under 18
- In 2020, females aged 10-17 made up 28% of juvenile arrests for simple assaults
- Detention admission rates for juveniles peaked at age 16 with 45 per 1,000 in 2019
- Motor vehicle theft arrests among juveniles aged 10-17 declined 78% from 2000 to 2019
- In 2019, 11% of juveniles aged 10-17 arrested for aggravated assault used firearms
- Juvenile drug offense arrests fell 70% from 2000 peak to 2019 for ages under 18
- In 2021, 33% of juvenile probationers were aged 14-15 for property crimes
- Vandalism arrests for juveniles dropped to 90 per 100,000 in 2019 from 500 in 1996
- In 2018, 16% of juvenile arrests were for liquor law violations among 15-17 year olds
- Juvenile weapons arrests decreased 60% from 1994 to 2019 for ages 10-17
- In 2020, Hispanic juveniles aged 10-17 had arrest rates 1.5 times higher than non-Hispanic whites for violent crimes
- Prostitution arrests among female juveniles fell 90% from 1996 to 2019
- In 2019, 25% of juvenile court intakes were for status offenses by ages 13-15
- Arson arrests for juveniles under 18 declined 72% from 2000 to 2019
- In 2021, 40% of juvenile transfers to adult court were aged 16-17 for violent felonies
- Curfew offenses among juveniles peaked at 50 per 100,000 for 14-year-olds in 2019
- In 2018, runaway status offenses comprised 22% of juvenile court referrals for under 15s
- Truancy petitions in juvenile court rose 15% for ages 12-14 from 2015-2019
- In 2019, 18% of juvenile arrests for sex offenses involved 12-14 year olds
Juvenile Delinquency Interpretation
While the data reveals a stark, decades-long decline in nearly every category of juvenile crime and arrest rates, the statistics that remain stubbornly high—particularly those showing vast racial disparities and a disturbing concentration of serious offenses among older teens—force us to ask not only what went right, but for whom, and where our systems still spectacularly fail.
Senior Offending
- Offenders aged 50 and over accounted for 13% of arrests in 2019, up from 8% in 1990
- Homicide arrests for 50-64 year olds rose 25% from 2010-2020, to 8 per 100,000
- In 2019, seniors 65+ had DUI arrest rates of 120 per 100,000, increasing 40% since 2000
- Fraud arrests peaked for 50-59 at 250 per 100,000 in 2019
- Embezzlement rates highest for 55-64 at 180 per 100,000 NCVS 2019
- In 2020, 15% of drug possession arrests were ages 50+
- Domestic violence arrests for 50-64 males 150 per 100,000 in 2018
- Forgery arrests 120 per 100,000 for 60-69 in 2019
- Sex offense arrests for seniors 65+ were 20 per 100,000 in 2019, stable
- In 2019, 10% of shoplifting arrests ages 50-64, up 30% since 2010
- Larceny arrests for 65+ increased to 200 per 100,000 in 2019
- Weapons violations low at 50 per 100,000 for 50-59 in 2019
- In 2021, elder abuse perpetration by 50-70 year olds 25% of cases
- Cybercrime arrests among 50+ rose 50% 2015-2021 to 8%
- Methamphetamine arrests for 50-64 doubled since 2010 to 300 per 100,000
- In 2019, 12% of homicide victims were killed by offenders 50+
- Burglary arrests for seniors low but 5% of total in 2019
- Vandalism rare for 65+, 30 per 100,000 in 2019
- Prostitution arrests shifted to older ages, 10% 50+ in 2019
- Arson arrests minimal for 65+, 5 per 100,000
- In 2018, 18% of financial fraud by 50-69 perpetrators
- Recidivism within 3 years 68% for offenders released at age 24, vs 37% at age 50+
- In 2019, 65+ offenders had rearrest rates of 25% within 1 year, lowest group
- Violent recidivism 10% lower for releases over 50 vs under 30
Senior Offending Interpretation
This is a statistical portrait of a graying criminal landscape, where the golden years are increasingly tarnished by everything from fraud and DUI to domestic violence and methamphetamine, proving decisively that while age may mellow some, it merely redirects the mischief of others.
Young Adult Offending
- Ages 18-24 year olds accounted for 27% of all arrests in 2019, higher than any other adult age group
- Violent crime arrest rates peaked at 650 per 100,000 for ages 18-24 in 2019
- In 2020, 18-24 year olds comprised 40% of homicide offenders arrested
- Robbery arrests were highest at 220 per 100,000 for ages 18-21 in 2019
- Drug abuse violations arrests peaked for 20-24 year olds at 1,200 per 100,000 in 2019
- In 2018, 33% of aggravated assault arrests involved 18-24 year olds
- Burglary offending rates were 3 times higher for 18-24 vs 25-29 in 2019 NCVS data
- In 2021, 25-30% of motor vehicle theft arrests were ages 18-24
- Larceny-theft arrests highest at 1,800 per 100,000 for 18-20 year olds in 2019
- Rape arrests peaked at age 22 with 45 per 100,000 in 2019 FBI data
- In 2020, 18-24 year olds had 50% higher DUI arrest rates than 25-34 group
- Weapons violations arrests were 400 per 100,000 for ages 18-24 in 2019
- Property crime victimization reported by 18-24 offenders dropped 20% 2010-2019
- In 2019, 28% of fraud arrests involved 21-24 year olds
- Domestic violence arrests peaked at ages 18-25 with 250 per 100,000 in 2018
- In 2021, cybercrime arrests among 18-24 were 15% of total, rising 30% since 2015
- Sex offense arrests excluding rape highest for 19-23 year olds at 60 per 100,000
- In 2019, 35% of gang-related homicides involved offenders aged 18-24
- Arson offending rates 4x higher for 18-24 vs older adults per NCVS 2019
- In 2020, 42% of shoplifting arrests were 18-24 year olds
- Vandalism arrests peaked at 300 per 100,000 for ages 20-22 in 2019
- In 2018, 18-24 males had burglary rates 5x females same age
- Stalking incidents by 18-24 offenders rose 25% 2015-2019
- In 2021, 30% of opioid-related arrests were ages 18-24
- Human trafficking arrests among 18-24 perpetrators 12% in 2019
- In 2019, 22% of embezzlement arrests were 23-24 year olds
- Forgery arrests highest for 18-24 at 120 per 100,000 in 2019
Young Adult Offending Interpretation
The statistics paint a picture where the transition to adulthood looks less like a coming-of-age story and more like a crime spree, as ages 18-24 dominate arrest data for offenses ranging from violent crime to embezzlement, suggesting a critical, volatile period where impulse, opportunity, and poor judgment tragically converge.
Sources & References
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