Number of estimated youth arrests, 1980-2024

Youth arrests have declined about 83% since peaking in 1996. Although estimated youth arrests increased during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2021 to 2023, they declined again in 2024 and remain below pre-pandemic levels, with a 34% decrease from 2019 to 2024.

The FBI changed its crime data reporting system in 2021, resulting in lower participation from some law enforcement agencies. This may have led to undercounting in reported crime and arrest data.
Chart: Amanda Watford/StatelineSource: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (1980-2020), Federal Bureau of Investigation (2021-2024)Get the data Created with Datawrapper