(1) Type of delinquency and age
  By gender,17-year-olds had the largest share in the number of males newly admitted to juvenile classification homes in1999(23.7%), followed by18-year-olds(21.1%)and16-year-olds(19.3%). For females,16-year-olds had the largest share(21.1%), followed by17-year-olds(19.7%)and15-year-olds(17.6%).
  Fig. III-34 shows the ratio of each type of delinquency in juveniles newly admitted in1999,by gender and age group.

Fig. III-34 Composition of Juveniles Newly Admitted to Juvenile Classification Homes by Gender, Age Group and Type of Delinquency(1999)

  Larceny accounts for the majority of delinquent males in every age group, followed by bodily injury and extortion for junior juveniles, Road Traffic Law violations and extortion for intermediate juveniles, and bodily injury and Road Traffic Law violations for senior juveniles. As regards delinquent females, pre-delinquency and bodily injury had the largest shares for junior juveniles, followed by larceny and Poisonous and Deleterious Substances Control Law violations, with similar percentages. For intermediate juveniles, pre-delinquency had the highest ratio, followed by Stimulant Drug Control Law violations, larceny and bodily injury. As for senior juveniles, Stimulant Drug Control Law violations were most prevalent, followed by larceny. The ratios of bodily injury and pre-delinquency were substantially smaller than in other age groups.
(2) Educational level
  Table III-6 shows the educational level at the time of delinquency of persons newly admitted to juvenile classification homes in1999,by type of offense for penal code offenses and by type of violation for special law offenses.

Table III-6 Ratio of Persons Newly Admitted to Juvenile Classification Homes, by Type of Delinquency and Educational Level at Time of Delinquency(1999)

  Senior high school dropouts had the largest share in the number of newly admitted juveniles, followed by junior high school graduates. Of the16,951persons who were clearly over the age of compulsory education including junior high school graduates and senior high school students,10,753(63.4%)had entered senior high school, but61.0%of them had dropped out.
(3) Characteristics of juvenile heinous offenders
  Fig. III-35 shows the number of persons newly admitted to juvenile classification homes for homicide and robbery in the recent10-year period from1990through1999.
  The number of juveniles admitted for homicide increased by30from the previous year in1998to reach71,only to decline by14in1999to57. Meanwhile, the number of juveniles admitted for robbery has risen substantially, with the index based on1990(=100)reaching321in1999.
  Of the juveniles adjudicated by family courts for general protection cases in the10-year period from1989to1998,93.7%of those who committed homicide as well as66.6%of those who committed robbery were placed under protective detention(source:Annual Report of Judicial Statistics).

Fig. III-35 Trends in Number of Persons Newly Admitted to Juvenile Classification Homes for Heinous Offenses(1990-1999)

  Fig. III-36 shows trends in the ratios of juveniles newly accepted for heinous offenses in the10-year period from1990to1999,by age group.
  Senior juveniles have had the largest share in the number received for homicide throughout the period, followed by intermediate juveniles. As regards robbery, intermediate juveniles have accounted for the majority except in1991and1993,exceeding50%in1996. In1999,intermediate juveniles accounted for47.7%of newly received juveniles, followed by senior juveniles with38.3%and junior juveniles with14.0%.

Fig. III-36 Ratios of Persons Newly Admitted to Juvenile Classification Homes for Heinous Offenses, by Age Group(1990-1999)

  Fig. III-37 shows trends in the number of accomplices in heinous offenses committed by juveniles in the last10years.
  In most cases, homicide was committed without any accomplices. Some70%of cases involved only one offender. In contrast, robbery was most often committed with accomplices. In particular, some60%of cases since 1996have involved four or more offenders. Meanwhile,20.9%of cases involved only one offender in1990,but this ratio dropped subsequently to6.7%in1999.

Fig. III-37 Ratios of Persons Newly Admitted to Juvenile Classification Homes for Heinous Offenses, by Number of Accomplices at Time of Delinquency(1990-1999)

  Fig. III-38 shows trends in the ratio of juvenile heinous offenders in the last10years, by educational level at the time of delinquency.
  The ratio of senior high school students has been on the rise for homicide. As regards robbery, the ratio of junior high school graduates was largest from1990to1995but has tended to decline ever since. Senior high school dropouts have had the largest share for robbery since 1997. The ratio of senior high school students rose from13.4%in1990to28.3%in1999.

Fig. III-38 Ratios of Persons Newly Admitted to Juvenile Classification Homes for Heinous Offenses, by Educational Level at Time of Delinquency(1990-1999)