Arrests among adolescents with a history of foster care placements in group home settings

Approximately 5 % of children and adolescents in foster care are placed in group home settings, with adolescents making up the largest age group in these placements. Group home placement is designed to support individuals with high acuity or specialized needs that cannot be met in a family-based setting. Prior research has highlighted the vulnerabilities of adolescents in group homes, including behavioral issues, mental health concerns, and juvenile justice system involvement.

The current study investigated the relationship between placement status and arrest rates among adolescents experiencing a group home placement.

Child protection system records from California were used to identify adolescents (aged 13-17) who were placed in group homes in 2014 (n = 2437). These records were linked to California Department of Justice arrest records for 2014 and 2015.

Descriptive differences in arrest status were examined by demographics and placement status after initial group home placements with t-tests and logistic regression. The association between placement setting and likelihood of arrest was examined with survival analysis.

In our population of adolescents who experienced a group home placement, 16.7 % were arrested during the study window. Adjusted hazard ratios for arrest were higher when adolescents lived in group homes (aHR = 1.57, p = .029) or ran away from care (aHR = 5.62, p < .001), compared to periods in which adolescents had transitioned to reunification or guardianship. During periods where adolescents were in family foster care settings, arrest rates were comparable to those who had exited to reunification or guardianship.

Periods when an adolescent was in a group home setting were associated with a heightened rate of arrest compared to those reunified with their families. We also found that arrests commonly occurred and reoccurred for young people residing in group homes, underscoring the need to understand whether specific protocols and practices in these facilities contribute to increased arrests.