An assessment of risk factors for early death among a random sample of previously detained youth

Most previous research regarding early death prior to, or during, young adulthood among previously detained youth has focused predominantly on males or on their cause of death. This study extends previous research by evaluating potential factors to determine if they are associated with early death in a random sample of N=999 formerly detained youth stratified proportionately by gender between 1991 and 1994. When those youth were to have reached the age of 28 years, existing case records were utilized via the National Death Index to determine if the formerly detained youth were deceased. Regression analyses were run to determine if any of 14? demographic, offense history, mental health, substance use, child maltreatment, child welfare, or family environmental risk factors measured in their childhood or youth predicted early death. Of the variables measures, (in contradiction to previous research?) only gender was significantly related to early death. Additionally, in a model run separately for females, being an African-American female was protective against early death. Implications for this research are presented.