Trends in juvenile crime

Does the decline in juvenile crime continue?

In the long term, there is a decrease in registered juvenile crime, both among minors and adolescents. In the short term (in the years 2018 to 2023), the number of juvenile suspects and criminal offenders per 1,000 peers stabilizes around the same level each year, with small increases or decreases alternating annually. In 2023, 16,900 minors and 23,400 adolescents were suspected of a crime, 14 and 18 per 1,000 peers respectively. In the same year, 4,600 minors and almost 13,800 adolescents (3.9 and 12.1 per 1,000 peers respectively) were found guilty of committing a crime by the Public Prosecution Service or the court.

Trends in juvenile crime for minors and adolescents in the period 2000-2023

Are juvenile offenders becoming younger and engaging in more severe crime?

There are concerns in society about a possible rejuvenation and increasing severity of juvenile crime. The idea of rejuvenation is not corroborated by the general trends in the (national) figures. In the long term, there is no rejuvenation of the population of juvenile suspects or criminal offenders. This general finding does not rule out that other developments occur with specific types of offenses, among specific groups or in specific regions or neighborhoods.

With regard to an increase in the severity of youth crime, the following can be noted. The seriousness of registered juvenile crime, measured in terms of the number of juveniles involved in (serious) violent crime, decreases in the long term after the peak years at the beginning of this century. In the short term, between 2017 and 2023, there is an increase in the number of juveniles involved in some forms of serious violent offending, with a slightly stronger increase among minors than among adolescents. The Public Prosecution Service reports a slight decrease in the influx of young suspects for the years 2022-2023 compared to previous years, which could mean that the trend is not continuing. The backgrounds of these developments are not known. There may be a real trend, after-effects following the lifting of restrictions in the Covid period or due to a longer processing time for these types of complex cases (or a combination). Changes in registration, the more severe 'labelling' of crimes, or increased attention for this type of offending may also play a role.

Concentration of youth crime and more online offending?

Juvenile crime registered by the police is concentrated in a limited number of neighborhoods and this concentration remains stable over time. Self-report data show less clear differences between municipalities of different sizes. Possible explanations for the continuous concentration of (registered) juvenile crime on the one hand point to structural social and economic disadvantaged characteristics of neighborhoods, residents therein or the interaction between the two. On the other hand, the finding may be an artefact of the data, namely police data. Targeted deployment of police sources towards specific types of offences, specific neighborhoods, locations or specific groups increases the chance that the same types of offenses, neighborhoods and its residents will reappear or remain in focus.

Furthermore, there is still little insight at the national level in developments in juvenile suspects and convicted offenders of cybercrime, while self-reported cyber and digitized offending can be considered common types of offenses.

Multiple sources collectively provide a comprehensive perspective

A significant proportion of offenses committed by juveniles remains unknown to the police and the judiciary. This is referred to as the 'dark number.' Therefore, individuals aged 10 to 23 are asked about the offenses they commit. This self-reported offending behavior primarily pertains to lighter, more common offenses. A large proportion of these offenses goes unnoticed and does not result in prosecution.

Additionally, data from official authorities provide insights into the developments of the total group of juveniles that come in contact with the police and the criminal justice system.The police, for instance, record information about minors and adolescents suspected of a crime. Data on penalties and (alternative) sanctions and measures for juvenile suspects come from the Public Prosecution Service and the courts.

Based on all these sources combined, the Juvenile Crime Monitor provides a broad and nuanced perspective on the developments in juvenile crime. These trends are described for various population groups (by age, demographic characteristics, family characteristics), for different geographical areas (neighborhoods, municipalities, and internationally), and for various types of offenses (including serious violent offenses). In addition to traditional crime that is mainly committed in the physical ('offline') world, changes over time in cybercrime and digitized crime are also described based on self-reported offending, registered police data, and verdicts.

Multiple sources collectively provide a comprehensive perspective

A significant proportion of offenses committed by juveniles remains unknown to the police and the judiciary. This is referred to as the 'dark number.' Therefore, individuals aged 10 to 23 are asked about the offenses they commit. This self-reported offending behavior primarily pertains to lighter, more common offenses. A large proportion of these offenses goes unnoticed and does not result in prosecution.

Additionally, data from official authorities provide insights into the developments of the total group of juveniles that come in contact with the police and the criminal justice system. The police, for instance, record information about minors and adolescents suspected of a crime. Data on penalties and (alternative) sanctions and measures for juvenile suspects come from the Public Prosecution Service and the courts.

Based on all these sources combined, the Juvenile Crime Monitor provides a broad and nuanced perspective on the developments in juvenile crime. These trends are described for various population groups (by age, demographic characteristics, family characteristics), for different geographical areas (neighborhoods, municipalities, and internationally), and for various types of offenses (including serious violent offenses). In addition to traditional crime that is mainly committed in the physical ('offline') world, changes over time in cybercrime and digitized crime are also described based on self-reported offending, registered police data, and verdicts.

Fall 2026: new JCM

The next edition of the full Juvenile Crime Monitor will be published after the fall of 2026. In the meantime, ongoing developments in subgroups will be examined and published online. For example, concerning characteristics of juvenile suspects in police data or convicted juvenile offenders.