Problem Analysis in Community Violence Assessment: Revealing Early Childhood Trauma as a Driver of Youth and Gang Violence

Abstract

Problem analysis conducted by a university-based research partner can provide communities with data-driven options to address the local drivers of serious youth and gang violence. Situated in Worcester, Massachusetts, this article describes how subsequent to early childhood trauma being identified as a potential driver of adolescent and young adult violence; problem analysis using local data confirmed that being the victim or witness of a traumatic incident before the age of 12 years was significantly correlated with involvement in violence in adolescence or young adulthood. Although there is a robust literature on the relationship between early childhood trauma and later delinquency, local decision makers did not consider this knowledge actionable until the research partner used the city's own police records to demonstrate the extent of the problem in the city. Rigorous problem analysis, conducted collaboratively between practitioners and an academic research partner, helped to compel local change and ensured that strategies addressed the right risk factors and directed service to the appropriate target population.

Childhood Trauma in Persons With Schizophrenia and a History of Interpersonal Violence

“…Clinical and epidemiological studies have shown that individuals who have experienced childhood maltreatment/ trauma have an increased risk for violent behavior later in life (7,8). Childhood maltreatment is also associated with an increased risk of developing psychosis (9-11) compared to the general population, and most probably with an increased risk of violent behavior among patients with psychosis (12)(13)(14)(15).…”

Polytraumatization, Mental Health, and Delinquency Among Adolescent Gang Members

“…Our results also demonstrated significant associations between polytraumatization and delinquency and drug distribution. Previous research among gang members has only identified the association between trauma and perpetration of violence, rather than including other delinquent acts (Ross & Arsenault, ). Although directionality was not specified in our study, it has been suggested that the relation between trauma and delinquency among adolescent gang members may be reciprocal, as one study demonstrated that trauma exposure increased the risk for delinquency, and gang membership increased the risk for additional traumatization (Begle et al., ).…”

“…There are also links between traumatization and the perpetration of violence (Hartinger‐Saunders et al., ; Maschi, ; Ross & Arsenault, ; Shaffer & Ruback, ), drug use (Lin, Cochran, & Mieczkowski, ; Loeber et al., ), and drug distribution among adolescents. Previous studies have demonstrated that gang members are more likely to engage in delinquent behaviors (De La Rue & Espelage, ; Harper et al., ) and drug distribution (Bjerregaard, ) than non–gang members.…”

The Impact of Maltreatment History and the Presence of Individual, Familial, and Communal Protective Factors on College Adjustment

“…Illicit substance use has also been considered both a negative outcome associated with trauma and a risk factor for later problems (Carliner et al, 2016). A peer group that engages in illicit drug use and other crime can be a related risk factor that increases the likelihood of negative outcomes, especially for individuals with a history of trauma (Ross & Arsenault, 2018). While many unique risk factors, such as peer group, are difficult for clinicians to remove, research suggests that increasing the presence of protective factors can counter the effects of these risk factors (Abrahams, 2009).…”