The Cycle of Violence Behind Bars: Traumatization and Institutional Misconduct Among Juvenile Delinquents in Confinement

• Author: Craig A. Anderson,Kevin M. Beaver,Michael G. Vaughn,Jonathan W. Caudill,Anna E. Kosloski,Alan J. Drury,Matt DeLisi,Peter J. Conis
• DOI: 10.1177/1541204009349399
• Published date: 01 April 2010
• Date: 01 April 2010
• Subject Matter: Articles

The Cycle of Violence Behind

Bars: Traumatization and

Institutional Misconduct Among

Juvenile Delinquents in

Confinement

Matt DeLisi,

1

Alan J. Drury,

1

Anna E. Kosloski,

1

Jonathan W. Caudill,

2

Peter J. Conis,

3

Craig A. Anderson,

1

Michael G. Vaughn,

4

and

Kevin M. Beaver

5

Abstract

The prospective link between early life exposure to violence and victimization and subsequent

antisocial behaviors is known as the cycle of violence. Although the cycle of violence has been

linked to an array of behavioral and psychiatric outcomes, less is known about its relationship to

compliance with the juvenile/criminal justice systems. Data from 813 confined delinquents selected

from the California Youth Authority and the Traumatic Experiences scale from the Massachusetts

Youth Screening Instrument Version 2 (MAYSI-2) were used to examine the cycle of violence and

three forms of misconduct. After controlling for other 18 demographics, delinquent history,

commitment offense type, and comorbid psychiatric symptoms that are consistent with the

importation model of inmate behavior, the authors found that wards with greater exposure to

early life trauma evinced more sexual misconduct, suicidal activity, and total misconduct reviewed

by the parole board. Implications and discussion for future research are offered.

Keywords

institutional misconduct, trauma, cycle of violence, delinquency, prison, importation model

Penologists have developed a range of theoretical explanations for inmate maladjustment and

misconduct during confinement. Early scholars (e.g., Clemmer, 1940; Hayner & Ash, 1940; Sykes,

1958; Wheeler, 1961) framed prisons as relatively distinct societies with an inmate culture and

micro-society characterized by its own argot, norms, codes of conduct, and stratification system. The

1

Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa

2

University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W. Campbell Rd., M/S GR-31, Richardson, TX 75083

3

Des Moines Area Community College

4

Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri

5

Florida State University, College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Hecht House, Tallahassee, Florida

Corresponding Author:

Matt DeLisi, Iowa State University, 203A East Hall, Ames, IA 50011. Email: delisi@iastate.edu

Youth Violence and JuvenileJustice

8(2) 107-121

ªSAGE Publications 2010

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DOI: 10.1177/1541204009349399

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