Definition: Annual (fiscal year) rate of youth (ages 10-17) arrests reported to Juvenile Justice Information Sharing (JJIS) by delinquency workers throughout Sarasota County per 1,000 youth population.

Source: Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, Delinquency Profile

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Below is a comparison of the value for this indicator among seven coastal counties: Charlotte, Sarasota, Collier, Lee, Manatee, Hillsborough, and Pinellas. These counties have been recommended as comparable counties by Sarasota County Government.

Youth Arrest Rate per 1,000 Youth Population (2016)

In 2016, there were 31 youth arrests per 1,000 youth in Sarasota County. The rate of youth arrests has decreased 42% since 2011. The Sarasota County rate is slightly lower than that of the state of Florida (37 youth arrests per 1000 youth) with a difference of 6 youth arrests per 1,000 youth.

The likelihood of youth being arrested differs according to gender, race, and age. In 2016, 25% of youth arrested in Sarasota County were female and 75% were male. Black/African American youth accounted for 31% of youth arrests in 2016, a disproportionate amount given that they constitute only 9% of the youth population. Additionally, youth ages 15-16 accounted for the highest proportion of arrests in 2015 (48%).

There are several risk factors that contribute to youth crime, including: poverty, childhood trauma, peer pressure, substance abuse, and lack of adult guidance. Although the number of youth arrests in the county is currently decreasing, racial and ethnic disparities persist. This indicates that the Black/African American community in particular could benefit from increased attention to after school programs and a better working relationship with representatives of law enforcement.