Maternal jail time, conviction, and arrest as predictors of children's 15-year antisocial outcomes in the context of a nurse home visiting program

Data from the Nurse-Family Partnership intervention program were analyzed to compare the "selection" versus "unique" effects of maternal jail time on adolescent antisocial and health risk outcomes. Data from 320 women and their firstborn children were available from the prenatal, birth, and 15-year assessments. Consistent with a selection perspective, prenatal and demographic risks directly and indirectly related to many adolescent antisocial outcomes. Maternal conviction and arrest were also associated with adolescent contact with the criminal justice system and health risk behaviors. Maternal jail time predicted whether or not children had ever been stopped by police, sent to youth corrections, or run away from home. However, these associations were not significant after controlling for prenatal risk factors and maternal conviction and arrest. The results highlight the importance of maternal criminality and other risk factors in children's environments, including prenatal variables.