The impact of high school graduation on arrest

This study investigates whether the completion of a high school education during adolescence deters arrest in young adulthood. While there is theoretical and empirical support that a high school diploma mitigates negative effects later in life, there are limited current studies in regards to the effects on arrest. Using the Wave IV data set from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health with a sample size of 5,114 participants; high school graduates and drop-outs between the ages of 24 and 33 were examined for any encounter of first arrest. A Chi-square test was conducted and found that a significant correlation between high school graduation status and arrest exists; indicating that those without a high school diploma are more likely to be arrested. The result highlights the importance of high school completion in adolescence.