College Arrests and Later Criminal Convictions: An Examination of the Cumulative Disadvantage of Misconduct While in College. Issue 10 (3rd October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thompson, Kevin M.; Huynh, Carol
• Is Part Of: Deviant behavior. Volume 39:Issue 10(2018)
• Page Start: 1267
• Page End: 1279
• Publication Date: 2018-10-03
• Subjects: Deviant behavior -- Periodicals; 302.54205
• DOI: 10.1080/01639625.2017.1409986
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0163-9625

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Crimes committed by college students have recently revealed some disturbing forms of misconduct. We know little however, about the sustained criminal behavior of this group in the decades following college. This study assesses whether being arrested while attending college is associated with an adult criminal conviction, 14–17 years following the college years. Data included a matched sample of non-arrested college students during the years 1996–1999, matched by gender, year in school, and college affiliation. The findings reveal that postcollege conviction odds increase between 3.3 and 5.4 times if a student has been arrested while attending college. Dropping out of college is associated with an increase in the odds of later criminal conviction, but dropping out does not have multiplicative effects on arrest status in college and later criminal conviction. Being a first year student moderates the association between arrest status and criminal conviction following college.