Exploring the Impact of a Juvenile Arrest on High School Completion

• In Event: Predicting Future Delinquency and Improving Youth Outcomes

Abstract

Recent research has identified several negative consequences associated with a juvenile arrest. Research has consistently found that juvenile arrests can perpetuate future offending and subsequent contact with the justice system. In addition, studies have also found that juveniles who are arrested are less likely to graduate from high school than their peers who have not been arrested. However, missing from this line of research is whether this effect on high school completion varies by the location of where the youth were arrested. This study examines the impact of a juvenile arrest on the likelihood of high school completion among a sample of Florida juveniles who were arrested for the first time while enrolled in a Florida public school. Specifically, we explore whether there are differences in high school completion among juveniles who were arrested for the first time at school versus those who were arrested for the first time in the community.

Authors

• Julie Brancale, Western Carolina University

• Jennifer M. Brown, Florida State University

• George Pesta, Florida State University

• Sonja E. Siennick, Florida State University