Risk of serious criminal involvement among former foster youth aging out of care

Prior research suggests there is a link between child maltreatment and out of home care and both adult crime and juvenile delinquency. Using a bevy of administrative data, this article investigates potential risk and protective factors of youth (n = 1420) who aged out of foster care without legal permanency in a southwestern state. Findings show that common correlates of crime such as gender, previous delinquency, mental illness and placement instability while in care significantly increase the odds of having a felony adjudication and criminal involvement. Results also suggest that the odds of a felony adjudication are lower among youth who access education training vouchers. This article contributes to previous research through its use of administrative data to support previous findings and by highlighting the negative influence of excessive placements while in care.