Individuals victimized by child abuse and neglect are more likely than people who were not maltreated to develop behavior issues, including involvement in the justice system. The following resources help practitioners understand the risks that experiencing maltreatment may have on children and youth involved in the juvenile justice system.
Child Maltreatment and Links to Later Criminality: A Bibliography (PDF - 550 KB)
National Children’s Advocacy Center (2020)
Provides a listing of articles, books, and other materials covering child maltreatment and linking to juvenile justice involvement.
Describing Associations Between Childhood Maltreatment Frequency and the Frequency and Timing of Subsequent Delinquent or Criminal Behaviors Across Development: Variation by Sex, Sexual Orientation, and Race
Lantos, Wilkinson, Winslow, & McDaniel (2019)
BMC Public Health, 19
Presents a study showing children who experience maltreatment are more likely to engage in criminal behaviors in adolescence and young adulthood.
Disrupting the Link Between Maltreatment and Delinquency: How School, Family, and Community Factors Can Be Protective
Wilkinson, Lantos, McDaniel, & Winslow (2019)
BMC Public Health, 19
Identifies protective factors that disrupt the connection between child abuse and juvenile delinquency, including school connection, high-quality parental relationships, and neighborhood involvement.
Dual System Youth at the Intersection of Child Maltreatment and Delinquency
Kelley & Haskins (2021)
National Institute of Justice
Explains the need for collaboration between the juvenile justice and child welfare systems to adequately meet the needs of youth involved in both systems.
Dual System Youth at the Intersection of Child Maltreatment and Delinquency [Webinar]
National Institute of Justice (2021)
Offers a webinar on youth involved with the child welfare system and juvenile justice system and their pathways to system involvement along with best practices for serving this population.
Examining the Relationship Between Childhood Trauma and Involvement in the Justice System
Wyrick & Atkinson (2021)
Examines the effects of childhood trauma, which are associated with consequences including involvement in the juvenile justice system and adult criminality.
Intersection of Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare Systems
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Discusses risk factors and characteristics of youth involved in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems and how these youth often face more complex risk factors and have fewer protective factors.