Over the past eighteen months, there has been an alarming increase in violent crimes committed by both adults and juveniles across the country. Of particular concern has been the unprecedented rise in armed carjackings committed by young car thieves, some as young as 12 or 13. A review of the recent cases, along with conversations with law enforcement, prosecutors, and other experts in the field, reveals that there has been a confluence of factors that are contributing to this rise. In this issue brief, we offer an analysis of these factors along with recommendations as to effective responses.

While there are no national statistics on this recent rise in armed carjacking by juvenile offenders, according to recent news accounts, many state and local law enforcement groups have been able to track a rise in these criminal offenses. According to various departments, numbers for these specific crimes have exploded during the pandemic and show no signs of letting up.

In Minneapolis, for example, there were 405 carjackings last year — more than triple the number n 2019. The suspects arrested were often juveniles between the ages of 11 and 17. Other cities saw significant increases too, including New Orleans, LA, Kansas City, MO, Louisville, KY, and Washington, D.C. In Chicago, there were 1,400 carjackings in 2020, with juveniles involved in nearly half of them. Chicago police say there have been 370 carjackings in the city of Chicago in the first two and a half months of 2021.