Race/Ethnicity, and Behavioral Health Status: First Arrest and Outcomes in a Large Sample of Juvenile Offenders

J Behav Health Serv Res. 2018 Apr;45(2):237-251. doi: 10.1007/s11414-017-9578-3.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the simultaneous effects of gender, race/ethnicity, and pre-arrest behavioral health (BH) service-use on age at first arrest, and first arrest outcomes. Between January 2004 and December 2011, arrest and medical records were collected on a retrospective longitudinal cohort of 12,476 first-time offenders, ages 8-18 years. Black youth were arrested at younger ages than white or Hispanic youth. Youth with psychiatric problems were arrested at younger ages than youth with substance-use, dual-diagnoses, or no BH problems. Compared to white males, black males had lower odds of detention and BH referrals. Compared to white females, black females had higher odds of release and lower odds of probation, detention, and BH referrals. A significant gender-by-BH problem interaction revealed males and females with previous psychiatric problems were arrested at younger ages than youth with substance, dual-diagnosis, or no prior problems. Implications are discussed.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age Distribution
  • Black or African American / psychology
  • Black or African American / statistics & numerical data*
  • Child
  • Criminals / psychology*
  • Criminals / statistics & numerical data*
  • Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry)
  • Ethnicity
  • Female
  • Hispanic or Latino / psychology
  • Hispanic or Latino / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Indiana / epidemiology
  • Juvenile Delinquency / psychology
  • Juvenile Delinquency / statistics & numerical data*
  • Linear Models
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Mental Disorders / psychology*
  • Prisoners / psychology
  • Prisoners / statistics & numerical data
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Distribution
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / psychology
  • White People / psychology
  • White People / statistics & numerical data*