Nonfatal Firearm Injury and Firearm Mortality in High-risk Youths and Young Adults 25 Years After Detention, Chicago, Illinois, 1995-2020 (ICPSR 38955)

Data Collection Notes View help for Data Collection Notes

Study Purpose View help for Study Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine nonfatal firearm injury and firearm mortality in 1,829 youths in Chicago, Illinois who were involved with the juvenile justice system and to compare incidence rates of firearm mortality with the general population.

Study Design View help for Study Design

The Northwestern Juvenile Project is a 25-year prospective longitudinal cohort study of youths after juvenile detention in Chicago, Illinois. Youths were randomly selected by strata (sex, race and ethnicity, age and legal status [juvenile or adult cohort]) at intake from the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center. Participants were interviewed at baseline (November 1995 to June 1998) and re-interviewed as many as 13 times over 16 years, through February 2015. Official records on mortality were collected through December 2020. Data analysis was conducted from November 2018 to August 2022.

Sample View help for Sample

The study team recruited a stratified random sample of 1829 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 1172 (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 1829 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 exposure to gun violence and resulting injuries and mortality.

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, the study team interviewed 1394 of 1709 participants who were still alive (81.6%).

Original Release Date View help for Original Release Date

2024-01-30

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).