One-third of young U.S. adults have been arrested: study

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NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Close to one in three teens and young adults get arrested by age 23, suggests a new study that finds more of them are being booked now than in the 1960s.

Those arrests are for everything from underage drinking and petty theft to violent crime, researchers said. They added that the increase might not necessarily reflect more criminal behavior in youth, but rather a police force that's more apt to arrest young people than in the past.

Though violent crimes might be on the rarer end of the spectrum of offenses, the study's lead author pointed to the importance of catching the early warning signs of criminal behavior in adolescents and young adults, saying that pediatricians and parents can both play a role in turning those youngsters around.

Robert Brame of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and his colleagues analyzed data from a nationally-representative youth survey conducted between 1997 and 2008.

A group of more than 7,000 adolescents age 12 to 16 in the study's first year filled out the annual surveys with questions including if and when they had ever been arrested.

At age 12, less than one percent of participants who responded had been arrested. By the time they were 23, that climbed to 30 percent with a history of arrest.

That compares to an estimated 22 percent of young adults who had been arrested in 1965, from a past study.

"It was certainly higher than we expected based on what we saw in the 1960s, but it wasn't dramatically higher," said Brame.

Arrests in adolescents are especially worrisome, he told Reuters Health, because many repeat offenders start their "criminal career" at a young age.

The researchers said it seems that the criminal justice system has taken to arresting both the young and old more than it did in the past, when fines and citations might have been given to some people who are now arrested.

"If (police) find kids that are intoxicated or they have pulled over someone intoxicated... now, nine times out of 10 they're going to make an arrest," Wright told Reuters Health.

"We do have to question if arrest is an appropriate intervention in all circumstances, or if we need to rethink some of the policies we have enacted."

He pointed out that young people who have an arrest on their record might have more trouble getting jobs in the future. It's one thing if that's because they were involved in a violent crime, he continued, but another if their offence was non-violent, like drinking underage or smoking marijuana.

"Arrest does have major social implications for people as they transition from adolescence to adulthood," Wright said.

Brame said that being poor, struggling in school and having a difficult home life have all been linked to a higher risk of arrest in that age group.

SOURCE: http://(link tracking not allowed)/jsoh2P Pediatrics, online December 19, 2011.

This is truly disturbing for more than one reason.
1. This study is helping to reinforce the government's voice regarding home grown terrorism.
2. I recently did a thread about Fluoride allergies where I uncovered study related information stating that Fluoride contributed to violent behavior and ADHD in children.
3. It is reinforcing the notion that we need more prisons, which are becoming privatized.
4. Considering how the middle class is now considered to be in the poverty level, more youths are within the statistical framework described for youth crimes, which will make them less desireable for gainful employment later in life.

America keeps living up to its reputation as having the highest prison population compared to other countries and this information shows that we will keep a secure hold on this number one spot for years to come.

I think the problem has a lot to do with how many things are now "criminalized" that before were tolerated as "boys will be boys". It is part of the neutering and feminization of men. This is necessary because allowing real men to run free would have already led to the overthrow of our corrupt government. It also gives the government the excuse to turn their second amendment right into a mere privilege with the support of the neutered general population.

Someone in power, figured out that you can make a whole hell of a lot of money for arresting, and sending them to court, so now you have to pay court costs, on top of what the stupid judge gives you, to pay back as a punishment. Its ridiculous, I paid $1000 dollars for a 10mph over ticket, bc it was my 3 offense, they even threatened to throw me in jail for a year, Its a scare tactic so you have to go and get a Lawyer pay him, pay the Judge, i mean the court LOL, and pay the state, While really they should just put you to work cleaning and making your own city better. all of them are in it to win it, the Lawers, Judges, prosecuting attorneys, they all know what they are really there for, and it isnt justice 99% of the time, but $$$

You might want to follow this research up with additional research.

Two things.

One is divorce and how many youth are being raised by single parents, how many parents have been opted in to the corrupt child support, welfare system. Whether they chose to be or not.

The second one you should research is how much revenue is generated to the state, judicial system and even tax exempt non-ptofits by enforcing these petty offenses. Should make for some interesting results!

reply to post by DarthMuerte


I agree and thanks for adding that point.

One recent example of this is a thread I did about a protester taken to jail because he wrote on the sidewalk with chalk. I had no idea it was illegal to write with chalk on pavement, but it's true. As far as I and others could see, this man was the first to be taken to jail while other people who had done this were just fined.

Way too many laws that can easily be broken and be reasons why more Americans are sent to jail. It's hard not to believe that this isn't by design. Especially for the younger generations who are known for being mischievous. Now they're going to be considered criminals instead of just "boys being boys" as you stated.

reply to post by Glassbender777


Yes, it's a vicious, continuous cycle.

As another poster stated, the one parent household increases the average of those in poverty and the kids getting less parental and healthy attention. The kid acts out by committing a non-violent offense, then suddenly he's "in the system" and cannot find adequate work later, has kids of his own, and the cycle continues.

reply to post by Afterthought


One thing that bothers me about the OWS crowd is that they realize that corruption exists, yet many of them have failed to draw the connection as to why America has become corrupt. Many of these are youth, who have been taught in school but have not given history a thorough walk through.

How many ask for the end of capitalism without understanding what that means? We have been living in a country that has become progressively socialist during the last 100 years. To end that capitalist ways of life would just be a final nail in the coffin for the good old USA and the birth of a truly tyrannical government.

reply to post by thehoneycomb


I think that a small percentage of the OWS crowd are well aware what the root of evil is, but the media isn't televising these folks. It could also be that these folks realize that they're surrounded by others who want to do good, but are too programmed and brainwashed and if learning of the real issues would consider the messenger a complete loon.

It really puts one in a rock/hard space predicament.

If only the ones who have broken through their programming would surround the Rothschilds' properties and storm Bohemian Grove, we might get some much needed ground moving in the right direction. As it stands now, even if these things happened, the media would never televise it or report on it. Then, one has to wonder if those who finally did these things, would they just up and disappear?

reply to post by Afterthought


Agreed, but I don't think we can ask the government to solve our problems either.
When has the government ever fixed anything? If we asked them to solve our problems for us chances are they will only make our problems worse.

reply to post by Afterthought


I appreciate your thread and s/f for the work you put into it. There is one thing that most people don't realize. Anyone who has received a ticket from a law enforcement officer is /has technically suffered arrest. That means even failure to signal for a lane change or walking on a don't walk sign and everything you can think of in between is just cause for arrest. The promise to appear that you sign is basically you bail. I know this for a fact and the police could arrest you for walking on the wrong side of the street in nevada if they wanted to. The above comments about infractions being cause for arrest are pertinent and apply in all 50 states.

reply to post by CherubBaby


Absolutely. There are many, many laws out there that can result in a person's arrest.

One thing that we need to address as a responsible and vigilant society is not only to make government smaller, but also remove several of these silly laws and regulations before you can be arrested for sneezing into your hand instead of your shoulder.

Every single person in the US is a criminal so why is it alarming that 30% have been caught?

The overzealous regulations by our state and federal Government has made activities that none of us would even consider being illegal a crime..

The “honest services” statute, if taken seriously, “would seemingly cover a salaried employee’s phoning in sick to go to a ball game,” fumes Antonin Scalia, a Supreme Court justice.

link

The U.S. Constitution mentions three federal crimes by citizens: treason, piracy and counterfeiting. Today there are approximately 4500.

If it's not bad enough that we commit crimes by not asking permission to do something that we have a natural right to do, hunting,fishing,building shelter, traveling freely on the road ways etc.., We are now able to be criminals for doing absolutely nothing at all. Under the American system, failure to report a crime can amount to an offense in itself, depending on the circumstances.

reply to post by Adamanteus


Your comment is certainly food for thought. Maybe the 30% is just what the testing ground was able to show. I think, as we speak, they're getting ready to raise that percentage by two fold.

The quote you supplied demonstrates that our judges see what's happening, yet they continue to allow things to get out of hand and allowing our courts to be choked by cases involving ridiculous charges. While on the other hand, we allow career criminals to tie up the courts as they sue homeowners for them getting injured on the property as they were in the process of robbing the place.

There's no question that the justice system is seriously flawed. One can clearly see why it's called the CRIMINAL justice system. Criminals are running it and they create the loop holes.

reply to post by Afterthought



There are so many laws in existence that people don't even realize they're breaking them. You can go on vacation to another state and buy something reptiles,fish, or a plant and the very act of putting it in Your car and driving home with it makes You a federal criminal.

some Orchids,water hyacinths, certain tortoises,snakes and lizards are all Cities I plants/animals and can be freely sold within the state but as soon as they cross state lines without the proper permits You become a federal criminal.

Lying to a federal official or lying to someone that in return tells the same lie to a federal official are both the same offense.

Lie to Your spouse and tell her that You bought that new toy for your business and she reports it on Your joint tax return and You are now a federal criminal.

There are over 600,000 laws on the books currently in the US and approximately 10 more being added weekly. I am unaware of anyone who knows all of these 600,000 laws and can be sure they have not broken one. It's really sad if You ask me, The "freest nation" in the world has the most laws on the books and the highest per capita incarceration rate of the entire world.