The time of day juveniles are most likely to be caught committing drug law violations depends on whether it is a school day, according to a recent analysis of data from the FBI's National Incident-Based Reporting System.

Drug law violations by both male and female juveniles are most likely to be reported to law enforcement in the morning and early afternoon hours on school days, with a second, slightly lower peak occurring in the evening between 8 and 10 p.m.

In contrast, drug law violations on non-school days are most likely to be reported to law enforcement only in the late evening hours (between 10 and 11 p.m.).

The greater likelihood of drug law violations during the day on school days may be due to 1) increased opportunity to use and sell drugs at school; 2) increased detection and enforcement of such behaviors at school; 3) increased parental supervision of youth during the morning hours of non-school days; and/or 4) inactivity of youth during the morning hours on non-school days, such as sleeping late.

For details, including data charts, source information and caveats, download the PDF file at www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/cesarfax/vol15/15-14.pdf.

Reprinted from CESAR Fax, a weekly, one-page overview of timely substance abuse trends or issues, from The Center on Substance Abuse Research (CESAR) at the University of Maryland.