EXAMINING CRIMINAL JUSTICE CONTACT ON FUTURE OUTCOMES: DOES AGE AT FIRST ARREST OR INCARCERATION IMPACT FUTURE MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE?

Abstract

The current study sought to investigate the impact of age of first arrest and age of first incarceration on current substance use and mental health outcomes. The increasing prevalence of mass incarceration in the United States warrants the need to further understand the widespread impacts. Utilizing the framework of life-course theory, the researcher seeks to understand the impact of a significant event such as arrest or incarceration on the life course. Secondary data was analyzed using the National Survey of Youth 1997 cohort. Findings highlight some significance of both age of arrest and incarceration on current substance use, but not mental health outcomes. Overall, results using regression suggest age of first arrest and incarceration have an impact on current substance use. More specifically, those first arrested or incarcerated at older ages have higher levels of current substance use. However, there was no significant relationship between age of first arrest or incarceration on current mental health outcomes. Sex was found to moderate the interaction between age of first arrest and substance use, highlighting a correlation for females but not males.