Criminal Labels,Racial Inequities,and the Lifelong Impact of Early Arrests on Employment

Abstract

This study investigates how the timing and cumulative frequency of juvenile arrests impact employment outcomes into adulthood, with a focus on racial disparities. Grounded in labeling theory and life course theory, this research examines whether age at first arrest, cumulative arrests, and their interaction influence employment status and weeks worked overtime. Using data from 19 waves of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 and mixed-effects multilevel models, we assessed how these factors operate within and between individuals across racial groups. Findings reveal that juvenile arrests significantly reduce employment likelihood for Black individuals, while no such effect was observed for Hispanic or White individuals. Cumulative arrests consistently decrease employment and weeks worked across all groups, with short-term disruptions (within-person) having a stronger impact than long-term patterns (between-person). Moreover, the interaction between juvenile and cumulative arrests disproportionately hinders labor market outcomes for Black individuals, underscoring the compounded barriers of racial stigma and criminal labeling. Educational attainment emerged as a critical protective factor, particularly for Black individuals, mitigating the negative effects of arrest. These results emphasize the need for targeted interventions, including educational initiatives and policy reforms, to address the compounded disadvantages faced by justice-involved individuals, especially within marginalized racial groups.