Examining the Link Between Traumatic Events and Delinquency Among Juvenile Delinquent Girls: A Longitudinal Study

Abstract

Researchers have postulated associations between childhood trauma and delinquency, but few have examined the direction of these relationships prospectively and, specifically, with samples of delinquent girls. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between traumatic events and delinquency for girls in the juvenile justice system using a cross-lagged model. Developmental differences in associations as a function of high school entry status were also examined. The sample included 166 girls in the juvenile justice system who were mandated to community-based out-of-home care due to chronic delinquency. Overall, study results provide evidence that trauma and delinquency risk pathways vary according to high school entry status. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.

Preliminary Cross-Sectional Validation of the CROPS 14-Item for Juvenile Offenders

“…Youth may be resistant to report exposure to potentially stigmatizing events (Perkins et al, 2016). Ascertaining accurate knowledge of trauma can be further complicated by how youth define their experiences (Kerig et al, 2011) as well as by youth employing emotional avoidance processes in the manifestation of adolescent delinquency (Marsiglio et al, 2014). This concern is amplified given that the CROPS 14-item does not have imbedded validity/reliability items to help determine profile validity.…”

Predictive accuracy and factor structure of the Child Report of Posttraumatic Symptoms (CROPS) among adjudicated youth.

“…Youth may be resistant to report exposure to potentially stigmatizing events (Perkins et al, 2016). Ascertaining accurate knowledge of trauma can be further complicated by how youth define their experiences (Kerig, Moeddel, & Becker, 2011) as well as by youth employing emotional avoidance processes in the manifestation of adolescent delinquency (Marsiglio et al, 2014). However, despite these limitations, significant results were found.…”

“…When examining trauma rates within delinquent populations, Abram et al (2004) found that 93% of boys and 84% of girls reported previous trauma exposures. More recent research has indicated that up to 90% of juvenile delinquents have reported traumatic childhood events (Dierkhising et al, 2013; Marsiglio, Chronister, Gibson, & Leve, 2014), with 67.5% averaging four or more adverse childhood events (Baglivio & Epps, 2016). Further, estimates of up to an average of 14 traumatic childhood experiences for typical juvenile offenders have been reported (Abram et al, 2004); research indicates a 12% to 82% increase in the probability of offending for each adverse childhood event (Baglivio & Epps, 2016; Fox et al, 2015).…”

Diverse Applications of Sociological Imagination: A Qualitative Study of Service-Learning Mentoring

“…Between one-half and two-thirds of youth, who are detained in our juvenile justice system, have one or more psychiatric disorders (Washburn et al 2015). Many have experienced severe trauma, including emotional, physical, and sexual abuse and neglect (Marsiglio et al 2014). Punitive deterrent measures are counterproductive to youth outcomes and public safety; they prevent youth access to treatment, inhibit educational opportunities and support networks for youth who are at-risk of delinquent behavior, and increase the likelihood of recidivism (Thomas and Wilson 2017).…”