Study Indicates An Increase In Americans Arrested By Age 23

Robert Brame, a criminologist from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, co-authored a national survey which found that 30.2 percent of Americans surveyed have been arrested for a crime other than a minor traffic violation by the age of 23. This is a significant increase from 22 percent in 1965, which was when the last study of this sort was conducted.

Mr. Brame surveyed 7,335 individuals nationwide between the ages of 12 and 16. The participants were initially surveyed in 1997 and have had follow up surveys every year since then. In addition to the 8 percent increase in arrests, the study also indicated that the likelihood of a first arrest increased between late adolescence and the age of 18. The study indicated that nearly 16 percent of the individuals surveyed had been arrested by the age of 18. Brame's study did not account for racial or regional differences in arrest rates; however, other studies have indicated that the percentage of African American men and youth in poor urban areas arrested are higher than other participants.