Getting arrested is a negative event for any youth. Youth who continue to have involvement with the juvenile justice system are more likely to have a criminal offense as an adult. Adults with criminal records face many barriers in finding and keeping employment. For youth who are arrested for using drugs or alcohol, the arrest may be the impetus for the youth to enter treatment for substance use disorders.
What the data shows
Both in Maine and nationally, the rate of arrests per 1,000 youth has been declining. Of the 50 states, in 2020 Maine had one of the lowest rates of juvenile arrests for violent crimes, including the second lowest rate of juvenile arrests and the third lowest for weapons offenses. To compare states, see:
Crime Rates By State
Statewide, the arrests for violent crimes against persons fell from a high of 12 per 10,000 youth in 1998 to just 3.2 per 10,000 youth statewide in 2020. However, in 2021 arrests for violent crimes went up. There were 71 violent crimes by juveniles in 2023 compared to 38 in 2020. The rate of violent crime of 5.9 per 10,000 youth is the highest since 2013.
In 2022, the arrests by juveniles for violent crimes for crimes varied between a low of zero for Washington County and a high of 14.3 in Piscataquis and 22.1 in Androscoggin per 10,000 youth.
