Illegal activities and criminal justice system involvement among youth in substance abuse treatment programs: Racial/ethnic disparities and policy implications

Background: Substance abuse (SA) is linked to an array of social problems, particularly criminal activity and criminal justice system (CJS) involvement. We explored the patterns of illegal activities and CJS involvement among racially/ethnically diverse youth with SA problems.

Methods: We used data collected from 11,708 youth (mean 15.8 yrs [12-24]; 73% male; 17.7%% African American; 46.6% Caucasian; 20.7% Hispanic; 15.2% mixed race) who were admitted into federally funded SA treatment programs throughout the United States. We used logistic regression analyses to determine the patterns and correlates of racial/ethnic disparities in illegal activities and CJS involvement. Socio-demographic characteristics, socio-environmental risk factors, and SA and co-occurring psychosocial problems were entered in our models as potential covariates/correlates.

Results: African American and other minority youth were more likely than Caucasian youth to report interpersonal and drug-related criminal activities. Although there was no difference in overall rates of arrests for criminal activities, African American and other minority youth were more likely to be under probation, parole, house arrest, electronic monitoring, or in detention or jail. Only a small proportion of the disparities in CJS involvement were explained by the extent of criminal activities, SA and co-occurring problems, and socio-environmental risk factors.

Conclusions: African American and other minority youth, compared to Caucasian youth, are more likely to be involved with the CJS even after controlling for differences in the extent of criminal activities, substance abuse and psychosocial problems, and socio-environmental risk factors. Implications of the findings to social and public health policies are discussed.