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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
ADVANCE FOR RELEASE AT 5 P.M. EST BJS
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1995 202/307-0784
23 PERCENT OF THOSE ARRESTED FOR WEAPONS OFFENSES
ARE YOUNGER THAN 18 YEARS OLD
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Almost a quarter of those
arrested for weapons offenses are minors, the
Department of Justice said today. In a study of
people arrested for weapons offenses during 1993,
23 percent were under age 18. More than nine out
of ten were males. More than half were white.
The arrest rate for weapons offenses for 18-
year-old males--one arrest for every one hundred
18 year olds--was three times higher than for
males 25 to 29 and five times higher than for
males 30 to 34, according to the Bureau of Justice
Statistics (BJS) study.
Weapons offenses include the illegal
possession, use, trafficking, carrying,
manufacturing, importing or exporting of deadly
devices such as guns, ammunition, silencers,
explosives and some types of knives.
Most felony weapons convictions are in state
courts (96 percent). However, federal-level
weapons investigations, prosecutions and
convictions have increased substantially.
Between 1980 and 1992 the number of suspects
investigated by U.S. Attorneys for weapons
violations increased four-fold, and the number
prosecuted increased five-fold. From 1985 through
1992 federal prison admissions for weapons
violations grew from 4.9 percent to 10.2 percent
of all federal prison admissions.
Arrest rates for weapons offenses during 1993
varied dramatically among the states and the
District of Columbia. The five highest rates per
100,000 population were:
D.C. 301
Missouri 199
Wisconsin 165
Georgia 149
Louisiana 142
The five lowest rates per 100,000 population
were:
Iowa 30
North Dakota 25
Maine 23
New Hampshire 16
Montana 12
Vermont 1
Urban areas accounted for the most arrests on
weapons charges, with 81 percent. The suburbs
contributed 14 percent of the arrests and rural
areas 5 percent.
More than 200,000 adults were arrested for
weapons violations during 1992. Most weapons
offenses are tried as misdemeanors but about
26,000 people were convicted of felony weapons
charges in state courts that year.
During 1992 about four in 10 convicted state
felony weapons offenders received a prison term,
with sentences averaging about four years. Almost
nine in 10 (86 percent) convicted federal weapons
violators received a prison term, with sentences
averaging more than six years (77 months). The
average federal sentence for a weapons conviction
in 1990 was almost four years (47 months).
Weapons violators accounted for about 2
percent of the state prison population and about 6
percent of the federal prison population. The
average state and federal prison time served for a
weapons offense was just under two years.
Many of those accused of weapons offenses
were on probation, parole or bail or had a prior
criminal history. According to the study:
- Of the felony-weapons defendants in the 75 largest counties in 1992, two-fifths were on probation, parole or pretrial release at the time of they were arrested. One-third had been convicted of a felony previously.
- Of weapons offenders in state prison, about 90 percent had been sentenced to probation or incarceration previously. Moreover, 60 percent of these offenders had been on probation or parole from earlier offenses at the time they were imprisoned for the weapons offense.
- Three out of four federal prisoners serving time for a weapons offense had a prior felony conviction record.
The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) report, "Weapons Offenses and Offenders" (NCJ- 155284), was written by statisticians Lawrence A. Greenfeld and Marianne W. Zawitz. Single copies may be obtained by facsimile transmission by dialing 301-216-1827 or by calling the BJS Clearinghouse, Box 179, Annapolis Junction, Maryland 20701-1079. The telephone number is 1- 800/732-3277. Fax orders to 410/792-4358. Data from tables and graphs used in many BJS reports can be obtained in spreadsheet files on 5¬ and 3« inch diskettes by calling 202/616-3283. After hours contact: Stu Smith at 301-983-9354 (END OF FILE) ADVANCE FOR RELEASE AT 5 P.M. EST BJS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1995 202/307-0784 23 PERCENT OF THOSE ARRESTED FOR WEAPONS OFFENSES ARE YOUNGER THAN 18 YEARS OLD WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Almost a quarter of those arrested for weapons offenses are minors, the Department of Justice said today. In a study of people arrested for weapons offenses during 1993, 23 percent were under age 18. More than nine out of ten were males. More than half were white. The arrest rate for weapons offenses for 18- year-old males--one arrest for every one hundred 18 year olds--was three times higher than for males 25 to 29 and five times higher than for males 30 to 34, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) study. Weapons offenses include the illegal possession, use, trafficking, carrying, manufacturing, importing or exporting of deadly devices such as guns, ammunition, silencers, explosives and some types of knives. Most felony weapons convictions are in state courts (96 percent). However, federal-level weapons investigations, prosecutions and convictions have increased substantially. (MORE) - 2 - Between 1980 and 1992 the number of suspects investigated by U.S. Attorneys for weapons violations increased four-fold, and the number prosecuted increased five-fold. From 1985 through 1992 federal prison admissions for weapons violations grew from 4.9 percent to 10.2 percent of all federal prison admissions. Arrest rates for weapons offenses during 1993 varied dramatically among the states and the District of Columbia. The five highest rates per 100,000 population were: D.C. 301 Missouri 199 Wisconsin 165 Georgia 149 Louisiana 142 The five lowest rates per 100,000 population were: Iowa 30 North Dakota 25 Maine 23 New Hampshire 16 Montana 12 Vermont 1 Urban areas accounted for the most arrests on weapons charges, with 81 percent. The suburbs contributed 14 percent of the arrests and rural areas 5 percent. More than 200,000 adults were arrested for weapons violations during 1992. Most weapons offenses are tried as misdemeanors but about 26,000 people were convicted of felony weapons charges in state courts that year. During 1992 about four in 10 convicted state felony weapons (MORE) - 3 - offenders received a prison term, with sentences averaging about four years. Almost nine in 10 (86 percent) convicted federal weapons violators received a prison term, with sentences averaging more than six years (77 months). The average federal sentence for a weapons conviction in 1990 was almost four years (47 months). Weapons violators accounted for about 2 percent of the state prison population and about 6 percent of the federal prison population. The average state and federal prison time served for a weapons offense was just under two years. Many of those accused of weapons offenses were on probation, parole or bail or had a prior criminal history. According to the study: Of the felony-weapons defendants in the 75 largest counties in 1992, two-fifths were on probation, parole or pretrial release at the time of they were arrested. One-third had been convicted of a felony previously. Of weapons offenders in state prison, about 90 percent had been sentenced to probation or incarceration previously. Moreover, 60 percent of these offenders had been on probation or parole from earlier offenses at the time they were imprisoned for the weapons offense. Three out of four federal prisoners serving time for a (MORE) - 4 - weapons offense had a prior felony conviction record. The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) report, "Weapons Offenses and Offenders" (NCJ-155284), was written by statisticians Lawrence A. Greenfeld and Marianne W. Zawitz. Single copies may be obtained by facsimile transmission by dialing 301-216-1827 or by calling the BJS Clearinghouse, Box 179, Annapolis Junction, Maryland 20701-1079. The telephone number is 1-800/732-3277. Fax orders to 410/792-4358. Data from tables and graphs used in many BJS reports can be obtained in spreadsheet files on 5¬ and 3« inch diskettes by calling 202/616-3283. # # # BJS96-2 After hours contact: Stu Smith at 301-983-9354