The Effect of a Juvenile Conviction on Labor Market and Educational Outcomes

Using data from the 1997 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, this paper seeks to determine the impact of juvenile delinquency on labor market outcomes and educational attainment. Overall, this paper found that having a juvenile conviction leads to decreases in the probability of both full time and regular employment. Men with juvenile adjudications were found to have greater decreases in employment in comparison to women. Regarding educational attainment, this study found that having a juvenile conviction increases the likelihood of dropping out of high school and decreases the likelihood of having a four-year degree or higher. This emphasizes the importance of creating more support and reducing barriers for individuals who have been convicted as juveniles to allow them to succeed in the world post incarceration.