******PUBLICATION ADVISORY******

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT BULLETIN DETAILS DECLINING JUVENILE ARRESTS IN 2008

WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs (OJP) today announced the release of a bulletin reporting juvenile arrest statistics for 2008. Drawing on the latest available data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's annual Crime in the United States report, the bulletin summarizes juvenile crimes known to the police and arrests made during 2008. Published annually by OJP's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, these data characterize the extent and nature of juvenile crime that comes to the attention of the justice system. In 2008, U.S. law enforcement agencies arrested an estimated 2.11 million persons younger than age 18, a 3-percent decline over 2007. Also, in 2008, the rate of juvenile arrests for violent offenses-murder, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault-decreased 2 percent over 2007, continuing a recent decline.

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The Office of Justice Programs, headed by Assistant Attorney General Laurie O. Robinson, provides federal leadership in developing the nation's capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist victims. OJP has five component bureaus: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; and the Office for Victims of Crime. Additionally, OJP has two program offices: the Community Capacity Development Office, which incorporates the Weed and Seed strategy, and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART). More information can be found at http://www.ojp.gov.

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