Is Adolescent Involvement in the System a Risk Factor for Reduced Health Care Access and Usage?

• In Event: Pathways to Delinquency: Exploring Risk Indicators of Juvenile Offending

Abstract

This study examined the association between being involved in the criminal legal system prior to age 18 and access to medical coverage and care in adulthood. Data from the NLSY-97 analyzed using ATE- Inverse Probability Weights and Poisson regression models to estimate differences in the probability of having health coverage or accessing medical care across four groups with varying involvement in the criminal legal system prior to age 18. Adolescents arrested before 18 had an 8.9 percent reduction in health insurance endorsement (2003-2021), a 3 percent reduction in routine check-up endorsement (2003-2021), and a 4 percent increase in visiting a doctor when sick (2003-2008) Adolescents incarcerated in juvenile facilities had a 29 percent decrease, a 16 percent decrease, and a 21 percent decrease in health insurance endorsement, routine check-up endorsement, and doctor visits when sick. Adolescents incarcerated in adult facilities before 18 had a 36 percent decrease, a 15 percent decrease, and a 7 percent increase in health insurance endorsement, routine check-up endorsement, and doctor visits when sick. These results suggest that adolescents with justice system involvement were less likely to have health insurance or to receive routine health care as adults when compared to adolescents without system involvement.

Authors

• Ian A. Silver, RTI International

• Jamie Newsome, RTI International

• Tova Cohen, The University of Alabama