Study: Where and when youth commit police-reported crimes

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Police-reported data from 2008 indicate that, overall, private residences were the most common sites for youth crime, more than for commercial establishments and outdoor public spaces.

Nearly one-third (32%) of young people aged 12 to 17 accused of an offence were involved in incidents that occurred at a private residence, which includes homes and surrounding property and structures.

Commercial establishments, including stores, office buildings and gas stations, accounted for 23% of youth crime sites, as did outdoor public spaces such as streets, parks and parking lots. About 13% of crime occurred on school property.

In addition to locations, this study examined the time of day, day of the week and season of the year in which youth committed crimes that came to the attention of police. The goal was to gain a better understanding of the nature of youth crime.

The location of youth crime varied with the type of offence. For example, non-violent youth crime, especially property-related offences such as minor theft, possession of stolen goods, fraud and shoplifting, took place in commercial establishment more often than other offences.

However, youth violent crime and youth drug offences were more likely than other types of crime to occur on school property. About 23% of police-reported youth violent crime and 31% of youth drug offences took place on school property.

Overall, locations of youth crime varied somewhat by age, but little by the sex of the accused.

In general, police-reported youth crime was spread fairly evenly across the spring, summer and fall months. However, it occurred least often during the winter months. Similarly, most youth crime was distributed uniformly across the days of the week, except for Sunday, which was the least likely day for criminal activity.

Youth drug offences peaked on Fridays, while Criminal Code traffic violations were notably higher on weekends.

In general, youth crime rose through the early morning and afternoon hours and peaked in late afternoon between the end of the school day and suppertime. It declined throughout the evening and overnight hours.

Police reported data indicate that after school hours, between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., were a peak time for violent and non-violent youth crime, while early afternoon (noon to 3 p.m.) was the most frequent time for youth drug offences. Night-time (9 p.m. to midnight) was the most common period for youth traffic violations.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 3302.

The Juristat article "Where and when youth commit police-reported crimes, 2008", Vol. 30, no. 2 (85-002-X, free), is now available. From the Key resource module of our website under Publications, choose All subjects, then Crime and Justice, and Juristat.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Client Services (toll-free 1-800-387-2231; 613-951-9023), Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics.