Exploring the factors associated with youth homelessness and arrests.

PROBLEM: The high rate of arrests among homeless youths has stimulated a growing interest in uncovering the factors associated with police involvement in this population. This study explored external factors related to their arrests.

METHOD: This secondary analysis involved 186 homeless youths. The difference between youths who reported arrests and those who did not was examined based on the following variables: economic status, meaningful activity, involvement with other homeless peers, mental illness, and drug use.

FINDINGS: The results of this study showed a significant association between drug use and arrests, length of time homeless and arrests, and depression and arrests.

CONCLUSION

The various factors thought to be associated with arrests likely interact with one another, making it difficult to directly link a specific behavior to being arrested.