A new study has shown that almost 50 percent of American black men and 40 percent of white men are arrested by the age of 23, a figure that some say comes as little surprise.
A study written by University at Albany criminologist Shawn Bushway published in "Crime & Delinquency" journal emphasized that these figures could help lawmakers come up with programs that won't stop ex-criminals from applying for houses, jobs or school.
"Many, many people are involved with the criminal justice system at this level," Bushway told the Associated Press. "And treating them all as if they're hardened criminals is a serious mistake."
The study examined men who had been arrested for non-traffic related crimes, based on a yearly federal Bureau of Labor Statistics survey in which nearly 7,000 people in their early twenties were questioned on whether they'd been taken in for any crimes besides ones committed on the road.
Many reported they'd gotten in trouble with the law for underage drinking, or violent attacks, according to AP.
By 18 years old, about 30 percent of black men, 26 percent of Hispanic men and 22 percent of the white men questioned annually between 1997 to 2008 said they'd been arrested. By the time the young men turned 23, those figures spiked to 49 percent for black men, 44 percent for Hispanic men and 38 percent for white men, the study revealed.
But co-author of the study Robert Brame, who works at the University of South Carolina as a criminology professor, said that the results weren't shocking.
"Among criminologists, I don't think they're that surprised or alarmed by the findings," Brame told AP. "The alarm and concern is among people not as familiar with the patterns."
Brame added that scholars were looking into further study on the nature of the arrests, convictions, and more.
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