Understanding Criminal Justice Involvement Among Homeless Youth

Homeless youth populations often face multiple barriers to employment and engage in unique high-risk illegal behaviors as a mean of survival. This proposed study aims to explore some factors that affect criminal justice system involvement among homeless youth ages 18-24. This research was a quantitative study utilizing secondary data from the YouthNet (2011-2013) study, a longitudinal study that included data from homeless youth who access services at drop-in centers in Hollywood and Santa Monica, California. The findings were obtained using univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses on the data acquired from the study. The results of the data analyses indicated that school enrollment status, survival sex behaviors (exchange of sex in lifetime), and duration of homelessness were significant factors for criminal justice system involvement while homeless. This study highlights that longer durations of homelessness increase the chances of youth having criminal justice involvement. It also highlights the importance of school enrollment while homeless and the need for continued dialogue and research on significant factors that prolong homelessness for youth