Writing Sample (Final Paper for CCJ 350 - Violent Crime)

Promise West
CCJ 350-02
Kenneth Cruz
December 10, 2018

The Link Between Childhood Abuse, Delinquency and Long-term Problems

Introduction
According to a study done in 2016 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “at

least one in four have experienced child neglect, or abuse at some point in their lives. This abuse

includes physical abuse, sexual abuse and emotional abuse. Physical abuse lead to nearly 1,750

adolescent deaths in 2016. If the child does not die, physical abuse can lead to physical impacts

such as high blood pressure, cancer or high cholesterol. It also leads to psychological impacts

such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal tendencies and more. Behavior problems

are also an effect of childhood neglect and abuse. Drugs and alcohol abuse and high-risk sexual

activities are behaviors that abused and neglected children have a higher risk of participating in.

(Violence Prevention, 2018). There is a strong correlation between abuse as a child and violence.

The report, “Prior Abuse Reported by Inmates and Probationers” highlighted that, “more than

one third of female state prisoners and jail inmates said they had been abused as children, as did

about fourteen percent of male inmates” (Birch, 1999). This data indicates that childhood abuse

also impacts the likelihood of victims to end up in the Criminal justice system.

The correlation of abuse as a child and violence can not only be observed through

inmates, I am not familiar with, but it outlines my life story. My biological mother was sexually

abused, emotionally abused and neglected a child. Because of this abuse, she turned away from

my family who was the source of the domestic violence and turned to the streets. She became an

alcoholic, addicted to drugs, involved in high-risk sexual activities and was in and out of
correctional facilities. In the midst of these activities she had nine children, all who ended up in

the foster care system. The two children she was able to keep for a limited time were exposed to

her lifestyle and ended up in the same street violence and correctional facilities. This brief

summary of her story has made it clear that the impacts of abuse as a child are not a myth, but a

struggle that many children are faced with. It also works as a lesson to teach what could have

been done to prevent her graduation from abuse to juvenile facilities to the streets.

Summary
Referring back to Chapter five of DeKeseredy and Schwartz (2009), abuse and its

consequence on women and their social support experiences are highlighted. In this chapter, the

authors identify the impacts domestic abuse has on women, including economic stress, safety

and psychological problems. Relating this article to childhood abuse, children experience the

same problems as a result of abuse and generally it has a stronger impact on the child. The

Pediatrics journal, “Adolescent Violence Perpetration:Associations With Multiple Types of

Adverse Childhood Experiences” written by Duke et al. (2010), discusses the different childhood

adverse experiences and the likeliness of children to take part in violence as a result of the

experiences. Duke et al. explains further how childhood abuse negatively affects behavior

children through self-harm and how the cycle of violence is continued. Most violence is a result

of this cycle of violence which supports the idea that if a person is hurt, they want to make

someone else hurt.

“Adolescent Maltreatment and its Impact on Young Adult Antisocial Behavior”

introduces studies that were conducted to illustrate the correlation between adolescent

maltreatment and certain behaviors. The journal states that those who reported childhood abuse

later experienced, “psychopathology including depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol disorders,
personality disorders and generalized distress (Smith, 2005). Cathy Spatz Widom also wrote an

article addressing behaviors that reflect adolescent abuse. Widom’s article discusses more of the

violence and criminal tendencies abuse children reflect (Widom, 1989). Just referring to these

four articles, it is clear there is a strong correlation between childhood abuse and psychological

impacts.

Argument
To tie together childhood abuse and the effects it has on delinquency and adulthood, the

General Strain Theory is important to understand. General Strain Theory looks at traditional

strain theories adding on, “the loss of valued persons or objects and the presentation of noxious

stimuli” like childhood abuse as other roots of deviant coping. Robert Agnew (1992) was behind

this General Strain Theory. A study was conducted to test General Strain Theory and how

childhood abuse breeds criminal behavior. Data from the National Longitudinal Study of

Adolescent Health was used. The results concluded that childhood abuse positively impacts

criminal behavior. Further, the data proved that childhood physical and sexual abuse are strong

predictors of criminality. The hypothesis that General Strain Theory can explain the correlation

between childhood abuse and criminality was supported through this study (Watts, 2013).

Based off Duke et. al., research has proven that childhood adverse experiences impact a

child’s behavior as an adolescent. This impact can be seen through early exposure to the criminal

justice system and behavioral impacts the child demonstrates. In this study is was highlighted

that children will turn to more violent, delinquent behaviors, as a result of these experiences. In

the article, “Violence Against Girls Provokes Girls’ Violence” it was stated that, “a

disproportionate number of girls come into the juvenile system with family histories of physical

and sexual violence and emotional neglect” (Schaffner, 2007). To further support the notion that
children are more likely to become involved in the criminal justice system, the article, “Early

Physical Abuse and Later Violent Delinquency: A Prospective Longitudinal Study,” concluded

that children who experienced abuse in their first five years were more likely to be arrested as a

child. It also concluded that they were more likely to be involved in relationship violence and to

have major behavioral problems (Lansford, 2009).

Psychological problems are one of the most common impacts of childhood abuse,

analyzed through research. In a study done using forensic medical records, public psychiatric,

criminal justice and coronial administrative bases more than half of the child abuse victims

experienced psychological issues that impacted their adulthood. These impacts include mental

health issues, offending and self-harm. (Papalia, 2017). Mental health issues are important to

address because there are nearly twenty percent of inmates incarcerated in the United States that

have a mental illness. Majority of these illnesses cannot be rehabilitated in today’s facilities so

most offenders would do better off in mental institution. (How Many, 2014). When mental issues

are not properly addressed, they can lead to substance abuse as well. A study conducted with

college students searched to find a correlation between childhood abuse and the impacts in

adulthood based on a Traumatic Dynamics Model. The model addressed traumatic sexualization,

stigmatizations, betrayal and powerlessness. In the study the researchers concluded that there is a

strong link between the abuse the student faced and the psychological problems they dealt with,

at the time of the study. Two-hundred and twenty-nine of the students were female out of the

three-hundred sixty-two overall participants. The findings reflected higher depression, anxiety,

substance abuse problems and risky-sexual behaviors for those who reported childhood abuse.

Twenty-five percent of the students who reported childhood sexual abuse reported higher levels

of depression and substance abuse. (Philip, 2018). In the book, “Dangerous Exits,” DeKeseredy
and Schwartz (2009), discussed the psychological impacts of domestic violence. Women who

experienced violence all, “developed adverse post-assault psychological conditions, such as

depression, sexual aversion and fear” (57). This can be related to childhood abuse, as children

are far less developed than adults, and since these are outcomes of abuse in adulthood, it can be

expected that the repercussions of abuse when younger are higher risks.

Violence Prevention/Reduction Strategies

Currie (2013) gives possible ways to prevent childhood abuse, as well as how to help

children who have already been impacted by this trauma. One of her resolutions discusses the

possibility of investing more money into resources that would lower the rates of childhood abuse

and impacts of the abuse. Currie (2013) defined childhood abuse as the, “worst most tragic of

violent crimes” as it makes up five thousand deaths per year, eighteen thousand of the permanent

disabilities and one hundred and fifty thousand of the serious injuries reported, in the United

States. Currie (2013) also supports that the, “correlation between violent crime and childhood

abuse is strong and consistent.” To combat this, Currie’s (2013) suggestion of implementing

anti-childhood abuse programs should be a first step. Through the research analyzed, it is

undeniable that when children are exposed to abuse, their criminal tendencies are higher than

those no exposed. This abuse generally starts at the home. Implementing at home visits, for

example would be helpful in identifying existing issues while preventing future incidences.

When someone makes frequent at home visits, the parents/guardians are pressured to treat the

children right and it keeps the parents/caregivers on track. Although there is a positive to these at

home visits, they can also create more hostility. If a person feels too pressured and they do not

feel as if they have enough control, this may cause them to react negatively. Some may not be

okay with the idea of a person monitoring them constantly and it may pressure them too much.
 Another prevention mechanism discussed by Currie (2013) is to expand and enhance

intervention for children at risk. This is not limited to children who have been abused. Children

in an environment that influences substance abuse, violence, childhood abuse and more are

considered in this category. Majority of the time is impossible to combat what is happening in

the home. What is worse is not having resources outside the home to reach out to. After my mom

was sexually and physically abused within the home, she had no support from home or outside of

it. This led her to her involvement in gangs to find the connections and help she needed. There

have been countless cases like my mother’s that could have used intervention. The most

influential place for a child is school they attend. By implementing programs and resources

within schools, children are not left with no options. In most low-income neighborhood’s schools

reflect the economy, as well. This tactic would build these schools and the education standards to

give at risk children a better chance at success. Further, parents are also positively influenced by

these programs, as seen in Yale’s research. It encourages parents to keep the children in school

and it helps the parents raise their children more easily. One downfall about this suggestion is

the willingness of schools and other community programs to commit. It was observed that these

programs cost nearly one thousand dollars and were troubling. If the children do not cooperate,

as well, then the programs become expensive and baseless. Schools may not want to participate

to avoid these extra costs. It is unfortunate to think about the downfalls of the programs because

there are millions of children that would appreciate these programs. It gives them a chance at a

brighter future than they would have had without the programs.

Conclusion
It was difficult learning about this correlation, as it was the root of my mom’s issues.

Childhood abuse lead her to the decisions she made. As stated in the research, health issues are a
possible result of the abuse. Unfortunately, my mom had to battle cancer for much of her adult

life as well as being involved in the correctional facilities and coping through substance abuse.

When I was able to meet her, a year ago at nineteen, she had just been released from prison for

violent crimes. Shortly after, she passed from the cancer. Learning about how some of these

events, if not all, could have been prevented through simple programs implemented in the

community makes the situation harder.

Based off of the research provided it is clear to see the strong link between childhood

abuse, delinquency and impacts on adulthood. The General Strain Theory also supports this idea,

as it highlights how childhood abuse contributes to the stress of surviving. Not all children go

through these impacts, but there is an alarming rate of those that do. These impacts include, but

are not limited to childhood delinquency, violence, psychological problems and involvement in

the criminal justice system. In order to try and fix these rates, anit-childhood abuse programs and

resources for at risk children should be implemented. These programs would combat early stages

of abuse and prevent at-risk children from resorting to violence as way to cope. With childhood

abuse being one of the most common forms of violence in the United States, it is important that

steps are taken to stop this cycle of violence.

 References

Birch, T. (1999, April). Justice Study: Prior Abuse Reported by Inmates. Retrieved December

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Currie, Elliott (2013). Crime and punishment in America(1st ed). Metropolitan Books : Henry

Holt, New York

DeKeseredy, W. and Schwartz, M. (2009), Dangerous Exits: Escaping Abusive Relationships in

Rural America, New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press

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Adolescent Violence Perpetration: Association With Multiple Types of Adverse

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