Youth with Disabilities More Likely to Be Arrested

Some 30% to 40% of people in prisons and jails report having at least one disability (https://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=5500). To determine whether having a disability (emotional, cognitive, physical, or sensory) increases risk for being arrested, this author analyzed data from the 1997 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth for nearly 9000 individuals. Disability status was determined through parental or self-report.

The most commonly reported disabilities were cognitive (9%), emotional (8%), and sensory (5%). The estimated cumulative probability of being arrested by age 28 was 30% for those without and 43% for those with disabilities. Disability was associated with increased risk for arrest regardless of race/ethnicity or gender…