DOI: 10.3886/icpsr34313.v1
title: Race and Drug Arrests: Specific Deterrence and Collateral Consequences, 1997-2009
title: Version 1

description: These data are part of NACJD's Fast Track Release and are distributed as they were received from the data depositor. The files have been zipped by NACJD for release, but not checked or processed except for the removal of direct identifiers. Users should refer to the accompanying readme file for a brief description of the files available with this collection and consult the investigator(s) if further information is needed. This study examines several explanations for the observed racial/ethnic disparities in drug arrests, the consequences of drug arrest on subsequent drug offending and social bonding, and whether these consequences vary by race/ethnicity. The study is a secondary analysis of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97). Distributed here are the codes used for the secondary analysis and the code to compile the datasets. Please refer to the codebook appendix for instructions on how to obtain all the data used in this study.
description: The purpose of the study was to examine the following four broad research questions: Are race/ethnic differences in drug arrests explained by race/ethnic differences in drug use, drug sales, non-drug offending, and/or dwelling in high crime neighborhoods? ; Does drug arrest reduce the likelihood of subsequent drug offending (i.e., drug use, drug sales)? ; Does arrest negatively affect bonds to employment, education, and marriage? ; Does the effect of drug arrest on subsequent drug offending and social bonding vary by race/ethnicity? ;
description: The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97) was chosen for the following reasons : The NLSY97 over-sampled African-Americans and Hispanics, which facilitates the racial/ethnic comparisons. ; The NLSY97 collects extensive yearly data on many important life events including drug and non-drug offending as well as contact with the criminal justice system including arrest and arrest charges. ; Approximately 60 percent of respondents reported committing at least one drug offense and approximately 8 percent reported a drug arrest. ; The multi-round panel design of the NLSY97, with yearly observations nested within individuals, permits the use of fixed effects regression methods. ;
description: The Stata syntax available as part of this data collection includes code to create two datasets from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97). Race and Drug Arrest Analyses Data is composed of 117 variables and 115,713 records. It contains variables on criminal activities, alcohol and drug use, demographics, arrests, criminal charges, convictions, geographic location, schools and peers, education, and employment. ; Effect of Drug Arrest on Subsequent Offending and Social Bonding Analyses Data is a propensity score matched dataset composed of 70 variables and 12,272 records. It contains variables on criminal activities, alcohol and drug use, demographics, arrests, criminal charges, geographic location, schools and peers, education, and employment. ;
description: Users should consult the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97) for weighting information.
description: Presence of Common Scales: Users should consult the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97) for scales information.
description: Response Rates: Users should consult the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97) for response rates information.
description: Datasets: 
 
 DS1: Dataset
description: These data are part of NACJD's Fast Track Release and are distributed as they were received from the data depositor. The files have been zipped by NACJD for release, but not checked or processed except for the removal of direct identifiers. Users should refer to the accompanying readme file for a brief description of the files available with this collection and consult the investigator(s) if further information is needed.
 The syntax files being distributed can be used to create and analyze the data set. In order to do so users must first obtain the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics website (http://www.bls.gov/nls/nlsy97.htm) using the distributed NLSY97 tagset files. For more detailed instructions please see the appendix of the codebook.
description: All household residents aged 12 to 16 as of December 31, 1996, in the United States. Smallest Geographic Unit: United States
description: For sampling information please refer to The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97).