According to a new study by Rand Corporation researchers, Americans who currently are under the age of 26 are almost four times more likely to be arrested than Americans who are over the age of 26. Other factors that made individuals more likely to be arrested included being single, fewer weeks worked, less education, and lower wages when working. Likewise, the number of individuals arrested between the ages of 26 and 35 was still 3.6 times more than arrests of those over the age of 66.
This study involved 5,000 families, including 35,000 people over a span of 50 years, which makes it one of the longest-running household surveys in history. The individuals featured in the survey are representative of the current American population, excluding those who have multiple criminal convictions.
The study revealed that black men (33%) still are more likely to be arrested than white men (23%) during their youth, although those numbers seem to be growing closer as time passes. Overall, about one-third of men between the ages of 26 and 35 had been arrested during their youth.
Than Younger Americans
Education also emerged as a huge factor indicating the likelihood of arrests. Six out of ten men ages 26 through 35 with only a high school education had been arrested by age 26. Conversely, only 23% of the men in this age group with college educations had been arrested.
Arrest rates also had a direct impact on earning capacity in adulthood. Individuals who were arrested once in their youth made an average $6,000 less in adulthood than those who had never been arrested. Those with multiple arrests in their youth made a whopping $13,000 less per year in their adults lives as compared with those who had never been arrested. The criminal defense lawyers of Peek Law Group have handled the legal defense of countless individuals who are facing criminal charges. We are here to protect your rights and advocate on your behalf in order to get the best outcome possible in your case. Call our office today at (512) 399-2311 to set up an appointment with our criminal defense attorneys today.