And the sharp decline in homicides by juveniles between 1994 and 1997 was attributable entirely to a decline in homicides by firearms.
Juvenile court handles cases involving juveniles ages 8 to 17. Juvenile firearm offenders are generally among the older segment of this population, with more than half of all juvenile offenses committed by youth ages 16 and 17. (More than 80 percent of robberies and assaults by juveniles using firearms are committed by youth age 15 or older, while the majority of burglaries by juveniles where firearms are stolen are committed by youth age 15 or younger.) The number of male offenders rises steadily with age. The number of female offenders peaks at age 15 and then begins to decline. Female juveniles often become involved with firearms through their boyfriends, who are typically a year or two older. This may explain the female juvenile offender peak at age 15, when many girls begin dating. Females commit less than 7 percent of all juvenile firearm crimes. Female juveniles are more likely to be involved in property or possession crimes involving firearms and are rarely involved in violent firearm offenses. The majority of juvenile firearm offenders (58 percent) have at least one delinquency adjudication on their record. Another 20 percent have had some type of court referral, but no adjudications. Only 22 percent of all juvenile firearm offenders have no record of any prior delinquent activity. Juveniles who commit robberies with firearms tend to have lengthier delinquency histories than juveniles who commit other types of firearm offenses. The average juvenile firearm offender's delinquency history includes one prior felony-level adjudication, one-and-a-half prior misdemeanor-level adjudications, and four other prior juvenile court referrals. Only 12 percent of juvenile firearm offenders have had a prior adjudication or referral for a firearm-related offense.
