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HC 2.10

VIOLENT VICTIMIZATION OF TEENS

Violent crimes include simple and aggravated assaults, rape, and robbery (stealing by force or threat of violence). In order to keep track of the incidence of these and other crimes, the United States has been administering the National Crime Victimization Survey on an annual basis since 1972.

Among youth ages 12 to 17, rates of victimization for violent crimes rose from 79 to 99 per thousand between 1980 and 1990 (see Figure HC 2.10) Rates continued to increase to a high of 123 per thousand in 1993 before declining to 118 per thousand in 1994.

Differences by Gender. Boys are considerably more likely than girls to be victims of violent crimes. In 1994, 141 per thousand boys ages 12 to 17 were victims of violent crimes compared to 95 per thousand girls.
 

Figure HC 2.10  
Violent Victimization of Youth: Rates (per 1,000) for Youth Ages 12-17 

Notes: Because of changes made in the victimization survey, data prior to 1992 are adjusted to make them comparable with data collected under the redesigned methodology. Victimization rates were calculated using population estimates from the Bureau of the Census Current Population Reports. Such population estimates normally differ somewhat from population estimates derived from survey data. The rates may therefore differ marginally from rates based upon survey derived population estimates. Source: Unpublished tables, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1980-1994.
 
 

Table HC 2.10 
Violent Victimization of Youth: Rates (per 1,000) for Youth Ages 12-17

 
   
1980
1985
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
   
———
———
———
———
———
———
———
Age
  12-17
79.0
84.3
98.6
106.2
117.9
123.1
118.4
  12-14
70.4
81.4
102.1
97.6
119.3
121.0
118.2
  15-17
86.6
87.1
95.1
115.0
116.4
125.2
118.6
 
Race/Ethnicity
  White
77.7
87.7
95.4
105.1
121.4
125.7
118.4
  Black
91.1
69.3
122.1
127.6
111.8
132.9
135.8
  Other
49.7
71.7
76.1
54.2
79.2
49.4
64.7
 
Sex
  Male
106.4
113.0
131.0
148.9
146.2
149.3
140.5
  Female
50.4
54.3
64.4
61.2
88.1
95.5
95.1
 
Notes: Because of changes made in the victimization survey, data prior to 1992 are adjusted to make them comparable with data collected under the redesigned methodology. Victimization rates were calculated using population estimates from the Bureau of the Census Current Population Reports. Such population estimates normally differ somewhat from population estimates derived from survey data. The rates may therefore differ marginally from rates based upon survey-derived population estimates.  

Source: Unpublished tables, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1980-1994.


 
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