LAUSR

Key Points Question Are youths involved in the juvenile justice system who use, have access to, or have been injured by a firearm or threatened with a weapon during adolescence more likely to perpetrate firearm violence and own firearms in adulthood? Findings This cohort study of 1829 randomly selected youth newly detained in a temporary juvenile detention center found that 85% of males and 63% of females were involved with firearms as adolescents. Nearly all types of firearm involvement during adolescence were associated with increased odds of using and owning firearms during adulthood. Meaning These findings suggest that firearm use, access, injury, and being threatened with a weapon during adolescence may be risk factors for firearm perpetration and ownership in adulthood.