TOP 25 JUVENILE CRIMES, OFFENSES AND VIOLATIONS
YOUTH/TEEN/STUDENT/PEER COURT, YOUTH
PEER COURT, AND PEER JURY DIVERSION PROGRAM
Below is a list of the top twenty-five (25) crimes, offenses and/or violations referred
to youth court, teen court, peer court, student court and peer jury diversion programs around the globe. This data has been compiled using several large-scale data collection projects largely funded by the Global Youth Justice, Inc. from 2009 to 2023, and prior to that when it began as a United States Department of Justice project from 1997 to 2008. Beginning with Youth Courts of the Capital District, Inc. by Global Youth Justice, Inc. CEO and Founder Scott Peterson, over the past thirty (30) years of the Global Youth Justice Movement, the types of crimes, offenses and violations referred to these diversion programs has expanded, to also include these diversion programs taking second time offenders. As a general rule, crimes, offenses and violations which are violent, sexual and psychological are not solely referred to these diversion programs.
For more specific information, please visit the resources page on this Global Youth Justice Website: https://www.globalyouthjustice.org/resources/
| #1Theft/Larceny Typical Cases: · Shoplifting · Stealing a Bicycle · Stealing from Backpacks and Lockers | #2 Vandalism Typical Cases: · Tagging and Graffiti · Drawing on Public Restroom Walls · Keying a Car and Cutting Auto Tires |
| #3 Alcohol Offenses Typical Cases: · Underage Purchase or Possession · Underage Consumption of Alcohol · Providing Alcohol to Underage Persons · Possessing an Open Container in Public/Car | #4 Disorderly Conduct Typical Cases: · Fighting in a Public Place · Cursing at a Teacher · Flashing, Mooning and Indecent Exposure |
| #5 Simple Assault or Battery Typical Cases: · Bullying when it Amounts to Assault · Child/Parent Physical Disagreements · Shoving or Pushing a Person | #6 Possession of Marijuana Typical Cases: · Possessing Small Amounts of Marijuana · Smoking Marijuana in a Public Place |
| #7 Tobacco Offenses Typical Cases: · Illegally Purchasing Tobacco · Chewing or Smoking Tobacco at School · Providing or Enabling Youth to Use Tobacco · Vaping and Related Products | #8 Curfew Violations Typical Cases: · Sneaking Out of Home After Curfew · Walking Home After Curfew · Violating a Park Curfew |
| #9 School Disciplinary Offense Typical Cases: · Disrupting Class · Food Fights and Cheating · Violating the Dress Code | #10 Traffic Violations Typical Cases: · Speeding or Failing to Yield · Not Wearing a Seat Belt · Riding in the Back of a Pickup Truck |
| #11 Truancy Typical Cases: · Cutting Class · Having Excessive Tardies · Violating Court Order to Attend School | #12 Criminal Trespass Typical Cases: · Entering a Vacant Building · Entering Land or a Dwelling Without Permission · Returning to a Store After Being Banned |
| #13 Mischief/Criminal Nuisance Typical Cases: · Damaging a Mailbox · Egging or Toilet-papering a House · Picking Flowers in a Restricted or Private Area | #14 Possession of Drug Paraphernalia Typical Cases: · Having a Pipe in Pocket with Resin · Using Drug Paraphernalia to Use a Controlled Substance · Possessing Drug Paraphernalia to Grow Marijuana |
| #15 Harassment Typical Cases: · Bullying · Making Telephone Calls Without Good Reason · Insulting or Taunting Another Person to Provoke a Disorderly Response | #16 Fraud Typical Cases: · Writing Bad Checks · Impersonating Another Person · Committing Fraud Via E-Mail |
| #17 Burglary Typical Cases: · Enter Friends or Relatives Homes to Steal Something · Entering a School Building to Steal Something · Entering a Home/School and Causing Damage | #18 False Reporting Typical Cases: · Pulling a Fire Alarm · Calling in False 911 Calls · Calling in a Bomb Threat |
| #19 Loitering Typical Cases: · Hanging Out in a Group in Front of a Building · Smoking in Groups on the Street Corner · Being in a Park or Store After Closing | #20 Possession of Stolen Property Typical Cases: · Having a Bicycle you know is Stolen · Receiving Stolen Goods from a Friend · Being in the Company of Someone Who is Stealing |
| #21 Possession of a Weapon Typical Cases: · Unlawfully Possessing Pepper Spray · Possessing a BB or Pellet Gun While Underage · Carrying Weapons like Metal Knuckles or Nunchucks | #22 Reckless Endangerment Typical Cases: · Throwing Snowballs at Cars · Hanging on to a Moving Car · Speeding Out of a Parking Lot |
| #23 Resisting an Officer without Violence Typical Cases: · Lying to a Police Officer, including one’s Age · Running Away from Law Enforcement · Refusing to Move When Ordered by an Officer | #24 Runaways Typical Cases: · Running Away from a Noncustodial Parents House · Going to another City/State when Forbidden by a Parent · Staying at a Friend or Families House without Parent Permission |
| #25 Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle Typical Cases: · Driving Without a License · Unlawfully Using All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV’s) · Taking Parents or Friends Car without Permission |
