The experience of being arrested for a suspected crime has become so common that it now includes nearly 1 of every 3 Americans.

The figure comes from a major research study led by Robert Brame, a criminal justice professor at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. The study found that 30.2 percent of 23-year-olds who participated in a national longitudinal study reported that they had been arrested for an offense that was not merely a traffic violation.

In our justice system, of course, arrest does not necessarily lead to conviction. But even an arrest record can have serious consequences for people going forward as they look for employment, housing, or credit.

That is why expungement or record sealing are so important, in California and across the country. This is because an old arrest record can hold someone back from getting a job or an apartment - even if the arrest was years ago. In fact, this can occur even if the arrest was erroneous, because digital technology is so relentless at preserving and allowing access to such a wide range of information.

Previous research studies had not found the proportion of people with criminal history records to be nearly so high. In 1965, an earlier research study had estimated the percentage to be 22 percent.

Beginning in the 1980s, however, the criminal justice system has become much more punitive and far-reaching. Arrest on drug charges, for example, are far more frequent than they used to be. Various zero-tolerance policies in schools are also a factor in the high arrest numbers.

Source: "Many in U.S. Are Arrested by Age 23, Study Finds," New York Times, 12-19-23