Incarceration and Subsequent Psychosocial Outcomes: A 16-Year Longitudinal Study of Youth After Detention, Chicago, Illinois, 2011-2015 (ICPSR 39578)

Date of Collection View help for Date of Collection

Study Purpose View help for Study Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the dose of incarceration and subsequent psychiatric and psychosocial functioning in 1,829 justice-involved youths in Chicago, Illinois 16 years after detention.

Study Design View help for Study Design

Participants were from the Northwestern Juvenile Project, a prospective, longitudinal study of 1,829 youths randomly sampled at intake from the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center from 1995 to 1998, stratified by sex, race and ethnicity, age, and legal status (processed as juvenile or adult). The study measured incarceration dose as the depth of involvement, ie, the type of facility where youth were incarcerated as they aged (juvenile-only, adult jail [but not prison], or prison), and total number of days incarcerated. Psychosocial outcomes were positive mental health, no problematic substance use, educational attainment, gainful activity, residential independence, interpersonal functioning, parenting responsibility, and desistance from criminal activity. Regression models comparing outcomes by facility type were propensity weighted.

At baseline, the study team conducted face-to-face structured interviews at the detention center, most within 2 days of intake. Participants were reinterviewed up to 13 times during the subsequent 16 years, whether they lived in the community or in a correctional facility. This study assessed outcomes for participants at their 16-year follow-up interview (median age 32 years).

Sample View help for Sample

The study team recruited a stratified random sample of 1,829 youths who were arrested and detained at intake to the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (CCJTDC) in Chicago, Illinois, between November 20, 1995, and June 14, 1998. CCJTDC is used for pretrial detention and for youths sentenced for fewer than 30 days. To ensure adequate representation of key subgroups, the study team stratified the sample by sex, race, and ethnicity (Black, Hispanic, non-Hispanic White, and other racial and ethnic group, including Asian American and Pacific Islander and American Indian); age (10-13 years and greater than or equal to 14 years); and legal status (processed in juvenile or adult court). The baseline sample included 1,172 (64.1%) males and 657 (35.9%) females; 1005 (54.9%) Black, 524 (28.6%) Hispanic, 296 (16.2%) non-Hispanic White participants, and 4 participants (0.2%) from other racial and ethnic groups (mean [SD] age, 14.9 [1.4] years). The study team conducted face-to-face structured interviews at the detention center, most within 2 days of intake.

Time Method View help for Time Method

Universe View help for Universe

Persons in this study are a stratified random sample of 1,829 youths who were arrested and detained at intake to the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (CCJTDC) in Chicago, Illinois, between November 20, 1995, and June 14, 1998.

Unit(s) of Observation View help for Unit(s) of Observation

Data Type(s) View help for Data Type(s)

Mode of Data Collection View help for Mode of Data Collection

Description of Variables View help for Description of Variables

Variables in this study contain information about incarceration and psychosocial outcomes.

Response Rates View help for Response Rates

Follow-up interviews for the entire sample were conducted when funding became available, at approximately 3, 5, 6, 8, 12, 14, 15, and 16 years after the baseline interview; subsamples were interviewed at 3.5, 4, 10, 11, and 13 years after baseline. Participants were interviewed whether they lived in the community or in correctional facilities. At 16 years after baseline, we interviewed 1,394 of 1,709 participants who were still alive (81.6%).

Original Release Date View help for Original Release Date

2026-07-29

Weight View help for Weight

Some strata were over-sampled to obtain enough information on key subgroups (e.g., females, Hispanics). Sampling weights are provided in the dataset, as well as sampling weights adjusted for nonresponse (e.g., withdrew, died) at follow-up (also see the User's Guide).