<p>Telomere length has been linked to adverse health outcomes in various fields of research. At the same time, criminologists have identified similar adverse health outcomes in individuals engaged in criminogenic lifestyles and environments. We examined telomere length as an underlying biological process linking crime and health. In our analyses, we used a longitudinal sample of 1,614 youth from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS) to examine the impact of genetics, early life environments, and early life behaviors on telomere length. The results indicate that genetic predisposition had the largest effect size on youth telomere length. Additionally, a number of early life criminogenic environments and behaviors, which prior research suggests are influential in telomere length development, were found to have a null association. Maternal depression and child maltreatment measures were shown to have a significant association with youth telomere length. However, the statistical significance of these environments varied by age, sex, and model specification. The effect sizes of the child maltreatment and maternal depression measures were much weaker when compared to the effect size of maternal telomere length. Overall, results suggest that genetic predisposition has the strongest association with youth telomere length. Conversely, criminogenic factors have null or weak associations with youth telomere length. Future studies should further examine novel behaviors and environments for potential correlations with telomere attrition.</p>