Changing Criminological “Facts”? Recent Trends in Juvenile Offending in the NIBRS Data

• In Event: Where's the data? The Diversity of Crime Data in the Modern Landscape

Abstract

Existing theoretical perspectives on criminal behavior propose varied, often conflicting, explanations for changes in criminal behavior. There are, however, a few conclusions that can be stated with such certainty and confidence that they might otherwise be considered a criminological “fact.” Chief among these facts is the simple conclusion that criminal behavior is disproportionately committed by the young. Following this, our research is based on a simple, but important proposition: those criminological phenomena that are recognized with such certainty and regularity that they can be deemed “facts” without credible opposition have the potential to provide critical insight into our understanding of crime, particularly when they evidence change. Using this lens, we present results from analyses of officially recorded juvenile offending data from the National Incident-Based Reporting System, with focus on changes in offending in recent years. Our results suggest significant changes in juvenile offending by gender, by crime type, and in nature (e.g., the involvement of peers), among other factors. Together, these patterns point to the need for critical theoretical inquisition into the potential changing nature of youthful offending in America.

Authors

• Brendan Lantz, Florida State University

• Kyle G. Knapp, Florida State University