National Center for Juvenile Justice Releases 2014 National Report

The National Center for Juvenile Justice (NCJJ) has released Juvenile Offenders and Victims: 2014 National Report, the fourth edition of a comprehensive report on juvenile crime, victimization, and the juvenile justice system.

With seven in-depth chapters, the 2014 National Report provides an insightful view of young offenders and victims, and what happens to those who enter the juvenile justice system in the United States:

• Juvenile Population Characteristics
• Juvenile Victims
• Juvenile Justice System Structure and Process
• Law Enforcement and Juvenile Crime
• Juvenile Offenders in Court
• Juvenile Offenders in Correctional Facilities

This seven-chapter report, sponsored by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, provides sought-after answers to frequently asked questions about the nature of juvenile crime and victimization, as well as the justice system's response. Each chapter presents important and complex information in easy-to-understand, nontechnical writing with supplementary graphics and tables.

Key highlights:

• The juvenile arrest rate for Violent Crime Index offenses is at a historically low level.
• The number of murders committed by juveniles is at its lowest point in at least three decades.
• The juvenile court delinquency caseload reached its lowest level since at least 1990.
• Female juveniles account for a larger share of the delinquency caseload than at any point in the last two decades.
• The juvenile residential placement population reached its lowest level in nearly two decades.

The NCJJ encourages reading the full report when time permits, stating that “Each section offers something new, something that will expand your understanding, confirm your opinions, or raise questions about what you believe to be true.”

The goal of the report is to provide juvenile justice practitioners, policymakers, and the public with the information needed to react appropriately to the needs of youth in the system while also protecting the community. It successfully provides the context needed for debates regarding juvenile justice and the direction of its future.

View the full report on the NCJJ website.