Pathways to—But Not Through? Revisiting the Trauma and Recidivism Relationship Among System-Involved Youth

• Published date: 01 October 2024
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/15412040241232896
• Author: Nicole C. McKenna,Valerie R. Anderson
• Date: 01 October 2024
• Subject Matter: Articles

Article

Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice

2024, Vol. 22(4) 296–313

© The Author(s) 2024

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DOI: 10.1177/15412040241232896

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Pathways to—But Not

Through? Revisiting the Trauma

and Recidivism Relationship

Among System-Involved Youth

Nicole C. McKenna

1

and Valerie R. Anderson

2

Abstract

Research has demonstrated that exposure to traumatic experiences in childhood and adolescence

can result in adverse outcomes, including mental health concerns, school troubles, delinquency,

and juvenile justice system involvement. The current study draws on a framework informed by

feminist pathways and trauma theories to revisit the effect of traumatic experiences on recidivism

two years following initial system contact. Data from a Midwestern juvenile court illustrated

traumatic experiences are common pathways into the system but are not predictive of expe-

riences through the system using general recidivism outcome measures. However, several other

variables predicted youth receiving new petitions. The effects of race/ethnicity and age are more

pronounced when the sample was disaggregated by referral unit (truancy vs. delinquency unit).

We discuss different methodological and measurement factors to consider when examining the

trauma-recidivism relationship.

Keywords

trauma, recidivism, juvenile justice, youth

Introduction

Upwards of 80% of youth involved in the juvenile justice system have been exposed to some type

of traumatic event in their lifetime—a rate three times higher than that of the general youth

population (Abram et al., 2004;Dierkhising et al., 2015). Abram et al. (2004) reported that 93% of

boys and 83% of girls in the juvenile justice system have experienced a traumatic event and the

typical youth in the system experienced as many as 14 traumatic stressors in their lifetime. More

recent research conf‌irms these trends—a high proportion of youth in the system have experienced

1

Department of Law, Police Science, and Criminal Justice Administration, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York,

NY, USA

2

Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Missouri –St Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA

Corresponding Author:

Nicole C. McKenna, Department of Law, Police Science, and Criminal Justice Administration, John Jay College of

Criminal Justice, 524 W 59th Street, New York, NY 10019-1093, USA.

Email: nmckenna@jjay.cuny.edu

some type of trauma, including adverse childhood experiences, victimization and exposure to

violence, developmental and complex trauma, and structural, historical, and racial trauma (Stern

et al., 2022). As calls for trauma-informed practices within the juvenile justice system grow

(Sickmund, 2016;Zettler, 2020), and research continues to document the prevalence of trauma

among system-involved youth, it is necessary to understand the role trauma plays in youths’

contact with the system.

Feminist pathways theory (Belisle & Salisbury, 2021;Bloom et al., 2004) and trauma theory

and research (Bloom, 1999) both note trauma as a risk factor for initial system involvement.

Feminist pathways theory hypothesizes that victimization is a prominent risk factor for girls and

women entering the juvenile justice system (Belisle & Salisbury, 2021;Bloom et al., 2004).

Indeed, research has demonstrated histories of physical and sexual violence, including human

traff‌icking, are prevalent among girls in the system (Epstein & Edelman, 2014). Trauma theory is

closely related to feminist pathways theory in that it posits a link between exposure to traumatic

events and adverse outcomes (Bloom, 1999;Chesney-Lind et al., 2008;Saar et al., 2015). Further,

both theories may offer explanations for youth who were charged with offenses that may be related

to or indicative of trauma (e.g., substance use, running away, domestic violence; Anderson et al.,

2019;Saar et al., 2015).

While the rates of trauma among youth referred to the juvenile justice system are concerning,

less is known about the underlying mechanisms and temporal ordering relative to future system

contact. Some research has demonstrated trauma is an important factor that leads to one’s initial

involvement in crime (Saar et al., 2015). Others have hypothesized trauma is important to address

and respond to for youth while they are detained or in programming and treatment (Ko et al., 2008;

Pickens, 2016). Most research in this area has focused on the prevalence of traumatic experiences

and the effects of trauma-informed interventions on behavior and reports of youth well-being

within facilities and treatment (see, Dierkhising & Kerig, 2018;Marrow et al., 2012, for examp le).

Less clear is the effect of trauma on adolescent recidivism as studies exploring this relationship

have produced mixed f‌indings (Cuevas et al., 2007;Dalsklev et al., 2019;Tossone et al., 2017).

The current study expands this research, exploring how trauma affects youth once they are

system-involved to answer the question of how traumatic experiences may shape youth pathways

through the system. Specif‌ically, we explore the relationship between trauma and new petitions

within two years among youth in a Midwestern juvenile and family court. We hypothesize that

experiencing more types of traumas and exhibiting more symptoms of trauma will predict a higher

likelihood of future court referrals.

Background

Trauma and Youth in the Juvenile Justice System

Exposure to traumatic experiences may lead to increased anxiety, depression, school misconduct,

and aggression in youth (Anderson et al., 2019;Bonner et al., 2020;Copeland-Linder et al., 2010;

Lansford et al., 2002), placing them at an increased risk for delinquency and contact with the

system. While research has successfully documented the high rates of trauma among youth within

the system and how trauma can help explain why and how youth come into contact with the

system, less is known about the inf‌luence of trauma while in the system. The current study

contributes to the literature on the relationship between trauma and recidivism to better understand

how traumatic experiences operate once youth are already system-involved.

McKenna and Anderson 297