Adverse Childhood Experiences and Justice-Involved Youth: The Effect of Trauma and Programming on Different Recidivistic Outcomes

• Published date: 01 October 2019
• Date: 01 October 2019
• DOI: 10.1177/1541204018809836
• Subject Matter: Articles

Article

Adverse Childhood Experiences

and Justice-Involved Youth:

The Effect of Trauma and

Programming on Different

Recidivistic Outcomes

Melissa A. Kowalski

1

Abstract

Studies have demonstrated that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are prevalent in justice-

involved youth and related to recidivism. However, the effect of programming on reducing reof-

fending for youth with a trauma history is not well researched. This study aims to examine the

prevalence of ACEs across different subsets of justice-involved youth, as well as the impact of family-

based programming and aggression replacement training (ART) for youth exposed to ACEs. Pres-

ence of ACEs among 50,862 in Washington State is examined via multiple statistical tests. Results

indicate that ACEs are prevalent in this sample, with higher ACE scores being associated with a

greater risk of reoffending for different types of recidivism. Both family-based programming and ART

had an impact on recidivism for males, while only completion of ART resulted in a decreased odds of

reoffending for females. However, an intervention between programming and ACEs was non-

significant, indicating that these particular interventions are not more beneficial for youth exposed

to trauma than they are for the general justice-involved youth population. Findings outline the need

to give ACEs serious consideration in the juvenile justice system, as these trauma experiences can

inform case management and programming.

Keywords

adverse childhood experiences, trauma, justice-involved youth, recidivism, programming

Justice-involved youth are a diverse group with a plethora of experiences that may contribute to their

offending or impact their probability of recidivism. One set of experiences involves adverse child-

hood experiences (ACEs), which can be conceptualized as a history of trauma. Ten experiences

constitute ACEs and include emotional, physical, or sexual abuse; emotional or physical neglect;

violence toward a child’s mother; hous ehold substance abuse or mental healt h issues; parental

1

Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA

Corresponding Author:

Melissa A. Kowalski, Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, Washington State University, P.O. Box 644872,

Pullman, WA 99164, USA.

Email: melissa.kowalski@wsu.edu

Youth Violence and JuvenileJustice

2019, Vol. 17(4) 354-384

ªThe Author(s) 2018

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DOI: 10.1177/1541204018809836

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separation or divorce; and incarceration of a household member (Felitti et al., 1998). ACEs have a

substantial impact on child development (Kilpatrick, Saunders, & Smith, 2003; Widom, 2000) and

are particularly prevalent in youth offenders (Baglivio et al., 2014; Cronholm et al., 2015; Flaherty

et al., 2009).

Consequently, ACEs are essential in understanding youth recidivism. Researchers have begun to

address this issue and have found that ACEs are associated with offending and reoffending (Baglivio

et al., 2014; Baglivio, Wolff, Piquero, & Epps, 2015; Barrett, Katsiyannis, Zhang, & Zhang, 2014;

Wolff & Baglivio, 2017). However, much of the recent research on ACEs is based on samples of

justice-involved youth in Florida (Baglivio & Epps, 2016; Baglivio et al., 2015; Craig, Baglivio,

Wolff, Piquero, & Epps, 2017; Fox, Perez, Cass, Baglivio & Epps, 2015; Wolff, Baglivio, &

Piquero, 2017). Accordingly, the generalizability of the association between ACEs and reoffending

in other states is not yet known.

Additionally, past research provides evidence of a relationship between ACEs and mental health

issues (Afifi, Brownridge, Cox, & Sareen, 2006; Anda et al., 2006; Bellis, Lowey, Leckenby,

Hughes, & Harrison, 2014; Felitti et al., 1998; Sacks, Murphey, & Moore, 2014). Other research

documents an association between ACEs and substance use (Afifi et al., 2006; Anda et al., 2006;

Bellis et al., 2014; Dube et al., 2003; Evans-Chase, 2014; Perez, Jennings, Piquero, & Baglivio,

2016; Vaughn et al., 2017). Yet, research is lacking regarding the effect of ACEs on reoffending for

youth with such needs.

Moreover, research has yet to assess the relationship between ACEs, programming, and recidi-

vism. These traumatic experiences could be addressed through treatment but may also impact how

youth respond to correctional programming, particularly if such programming does not account for

trauma exposure. According to Baglivio and Epps (2016), failure to address ACEs in justice-

involved youth may result in long-term effects, where trauma continues to plague offenders into

adulthood. As a result, the community may have to expend more financial resources to prosecute,

incarcerate and/or supervise offenders with a history of trauma.

Yet, ACEs are not currently considered a need that may contribute to offending (Andrews &

Bonta, 2010) despite evidence indicating these experiences increase the probability of youth having

contact with the juvenile justice system (Wasserman, Ko, Larkin, & McReynolds, 2004). In fact,

many justice-involved youth present with one or more experiences of trauma (Baglivio et al., 2014;

Cronholm et al., 2015; Flaherty et al., 2009), and as suggested by Fox, Perez, Cass, Baglivio, and

Epps (2015), continued crime could be prevented by addressing ACEs.

The present study thus builds upon the ACEs research by examining the prevalence of ACEs in

Washington State. Differences across males and females, as well as race/ethnicity, mental health

status, and substance use, are investigated. ACEs may present as a need to be addressed by pro-

gramming; as such, the impact of two types of programming—family treatment and aggression

replacement training (ART)—are further examined to ascertain whether these treatments impact the

recidivism of youth with a trauma history. Additionally, unlike previous research, the current study

assesses the effect of ACEs on various types of recidivism at different follow-up periods. To

improve the correctional response to youth with a history of trauma, the present study suggests that

ACEs be considered when developing case plans for justice-involved youth who have reported a

history of trauma.

ACEs as a Pathway to the Juvenile Justice System

Child maltreatment is a concern in the United States, as it has a damaging impact on child devel-

opment (Kilpatrick et al., 2003; Widom, 2000). Nearly 50%of children experience one or more

ACEs, and 11%report three or more by the time they reach young adulthood (Sacks et al., 2014).

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