Q: How many juveniles are there in the United States population?
A: In 1999 more than 1 in 4 Americans were under age 18.
The juvenile population is increasing less than any other segment of the population. Between 1995 and 2015, the population of persons under age 18 is expected to increase 8%. In contrast the population of persons ages 18 through 24 will increase 22%, persons ages 25 to 64 will increase 18%, and persons ages 65 and older will increase 36%. The population of juvenile minorities will experience the most growth between 1995 and 2015. The number of black juveniles are expected to increase 19%, Native American juveniles 17%, and Asian/Pacific Islander juveniles 74%, while white juveniles will increase 3%. Juveniles of Hispanic ethnicity are expected to increase 59% during this period.
Q: How has the proportion of children living in single-parent homes changed since 1970?
A: The proportion of children living in single-parent homes more than doubled between 1970 and 2010 from 12% to 27%.
In 2010, 69% of children were living in two-parent families – a level that has held since the mid-1990s. Most other children lived in single-parent households. While most children in single-parent families lived with their mothers in 2010, an increasing proportion were living with their fathers. Between 1970 and 2010, the proportion of children in single-parent homes living with their fathers grew from 1% to 4%.
A never-married parent is becoming more common in single-parent homes. Between 1970 and 2010, the proportion of children living with a never-married parent increased from 7% to 41%.
Q: Does the proportion of children living in poverty vary by family structure?
A: Children in single-parent families are more likely to live in poverty.
In 2010, about 1 in 8 (13%) of children living with both parents lived below the poverty level compared to 4 in 10 (40%) of children living with only one parent.
Children living with only their mothers in 2010 were nearly twice as likely to live in poverty than those living with only their fathers (43% vs. 22%).
Overall, about 4% of children in 2010 lived in households receiving public assistance and 19% lived in households receiving food stamps, but the proportions were far greater for children living in single-mother families.
Q: How many murders are committed by juvenile offenders in the United States?
A: Known juvenile offenders were involved in at least 908 murders in the U.S. in 2008– 9% of all
murders.
Q: What proportion of violent crimes are committed by juveniles?
A: On average, juveniles were involved in one-quarter of serious violent victimizations annually over the last 25 years.
The Bureau of Justice Statistics' National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) asks a nationally representative sample of persons ages 12 and older about violent crimes in which they were the victim. Since 1973, the NCVS has been a national barometer of crime trends.
According to the NCVS, in 1997 juveniles under age 18 were involved in 27% of all serious violent victimizations, including 14% of sexual assaults, 30% of robberies, and 27% of aggravated assaults.
Q: What time of day are adults and juveniles most likely to commit violent crimes?
A: Unlike violent crime by adult offenders, violent crime by juvenile offenders peaks in the late
afternoon.
In general, the number of violent crimes committed by adults increases hourly from 6 a.m. through the afternoon and evening hours, peaks at 10 p.m., and then drops to a low point at 6 a.m. In contrast, violent crimes by juveniles peak in the afternoon between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., the hour at the end of the school day.
Nearly one-third (29%) of all violent crime committed by juvenile offenders occurs between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. In comparison, 26% of all violent committed by adult offenders occurs between 8 p.m. and 12 p.m.
