Child Delinquency, ACEs, and the Juvenile Justice System: Does Exposure to ACEs Affect Justice System Experiences for Children?

Abstract

Thousands of children ages 12 and under are referred to juvenile justice systems each year, and little is known about how their experiences may differ from those of older youth. The purpose of this study was to compare risk factors associated with juvenile justice referral between children and adolescents and examine differences in adjudication and disposition of referred children and adolescents. The moderating role of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) was also examined. Using data from the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, results suggest children referred to the juvenile justice system are more likely to have experienced greater numbers of ACEs, have family and school problems, and be referred by schools. Results also indicate children and adolescents differ in their experiences within the juvenile justice system, and that experiences vary according to exposure to ACEs. Results suggest juvenile justice system officials should consider the unique needs of children referred to the system and be cognizant of the influence of non-legal factors in decision-making for this population.

A narrative evaluation of a faith-based aftercare program for youth involved in the juvenile justice system

“…In their childhood narratives, participants described experiences of extreme poverty, parental abuse and neglect, which they ascribed as reasons for their early life of crime. This is consistent with the extant literature, which suggests that adverse childhood experiences are precursors to the development of juvenile delinquency (Novak & De Francisco Lopes, 2022). Such deprivation of physiological and psychological needs also compromises young offenders’ mental health (Turner et al, 2021), and in turn, increases the risk of recidivism (Wibbelink et al, 2017).…”

Adolescent Domestic Violence Referrals and Adverse Childhood Experiences: Race and Sex Differences

“…The goal of the present study was to investigate how ACEs may influence referral to the juvenile justice system for domestic violence as well as how this relationship was moderated by race and sex. Prior research in the area focused primarily on risk factors associated with the perpetration of AFV (Miles & Condry, 2016; Moulds et al, 2019; Simmons et al, 2018) as well as the influence of ACEs on youth outcomes, including delinquency, juvenile justice system contact, and poor mental and behavioral health (Bomysoad & Francis, 2020; Brown & Shillington, 2017; Hunt et al, 2017; Leza et al, 2021; Novak & De Francisco Lopes, 2022; Scully et al, 2020), but limited research had examined the relationship between ACEs and referral to juvenile justice systems for domestic violence. According to results, ACEs were associated with referral, suggesting youth who experience adversity in and outside of the home are more likely to be referred to the juvenile justice system for domestic violence.…”

“…Existing research suggests ACEs exposure is associated with a wide range of outcomes also indicated as risks for AFV perpetration, including antisocial behavior and delinquency measured broadly (Hunt et al, 2017; Novak & De Francisco Lopes, 2022), mental health concerns (Bomysoad & Francis, 2020; Scully et al, 2020), and substance use (Brown & Shillington, 2017; Leza et al, 2021). Extensive research also suggests ACEs are associated with juvenile justice involvement (Baglivio et al, 2015; Novak & De Francisco Lopes, 2022) for children and youth, suggesting youth who are referred to the juvenile justice system are more likely to have experienced circumstances that may precipitate AFV perpetration.…”

Understanding adverse childhood experiences and the call for trauma-informed healthcare system in Turkey: a review

“…Additionally, 3.5% of the victims were reported to have made threats, 2.7% had "inhibited someone's personal freedom," and 2.1% were accused of theft (TurkStat Statistics on Family 2019). Previous studies have shown that ACEs are particularly prevalent among children involved in the justice system [5,29,56]. Experiencing ACEs is linked to a dose-effect relationship with chronic physical health, mental health, and behavioral outcomes among juveniles [5].…”