Citation

Thompson K, Hein E. J. Coll. Character 2014; 15(4): 235-244.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Center for the Study of Values in College Student Development, Florida State University)

DOI

10.1515/jcc-2014-0028

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article examines postcollege criminal convictions among students who recorded a substance use-related arrest while attending college from 1996-99. Specifically, this study assesses whether Greek or athletic membership offered protective or elevated odds of a conviction over the next 14-17 years, relative to non-Greeks and non-athletes. The data show that one-third of these 1,075 students were convicted of another crime following college. One-fifth of these former students were convicted of driving under the influence (DUI). Data show that being male, being arrested during the first year, and being arrested for a DUI increased the odds of a postcollege conviction. Athletic membership while in school reduced the odds of a subsequent conviction for all crime, but the three groups did not differ in postcollege substance use-related convictions. The authors suggest some strategies for deterring future criminal involvement through earlier intervention while students are still attending college.

Language: en