Many people would be surprised to find out how many people are arrested at a young age. According to a recent study, nearly 50 percent of black men and 40 percent of white men are arrested before the age of 23. These arrests were for non-traffic crimes.
The study used Bureau of Labor Statistics data from surveys that asked young men for nearly a decade about their arrest record. These were self-reported arrests to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. When someone is arrested for a crime, their reputation can be severely damaged. Sometimes it could be as simple as an arrest for underage drinking in Colorado that results in difficulty getting into college or starting a career.
Some states are now proposing policy changes to help ensure young people don’t have their career and education goals hindered by a crime they committed as a minor. Sometimes it can be difficult for people to adequately explain the situation behind their arrest.
If they don’t understand their rights as a young person, they might be wrongfully convicted. A conviction might deter a college from making an admission decision and make it difficult for the person to explain the conviction in a job interview, or even receive an interview.
Speaking with an attorney can help people with underage drinking or other arrests understand their rights. When their future is at stake because of an arrest as a minor, it is important that they take steps to defend their reputation and ensure they maintain their innocence.
Source: Associated Press, “Study: Nearly half of black men arrested by age 23,” Jake Pearson, Jan. 20, 2014