Skip to main content

PACEsConnectionCommunitiesPACEs in the Criminal Justice System

PACEs in the Criminal Justice System

Discussion and sharing of resources in working with clients involved in the criminal justice system and how screening for and treating ACEs will lead to successful re-entry of prisoners into the community and reduced recidivism for former offenders.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Justice System Contact: A Systematic Review [pediatrics.aappublications.org]

 

By Gloria Huei-Jong Graf, Stanford Chihuri, Melanie Blow, and Guohua Li, Pediatrics, January 2021

CONTEXT: Given the wide-ranging health impacts of justice system involvement, we examined evidence for the association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and justice system contact in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To synthesize epidemiological evidence for the association between ACEs and justice system contact.

DATA SOURCES: We searched 5 databases for studies conducted through January 2020. The search term used for each database was as follows: (“aces” OR “childhood adversities”) AND (“delinquency” OR “crime” OR “juvenile” OR criminal* OR offend*).

STUDY SELECTION: We included all observational studies assessing the association between ACEs and justice system contact conducted in the United States.

DATA EXTRACTION: Data extracted from each eligible study included information about the study design, study population, sample size, exposure and outcome measures, and key findings. Study quality was assessed by using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for nonrandomized trials.

RESULTS: In total, 10 of 11 studies reviewed were conducted in juvenile population groups. Elevated ACE scores were associated with increased risk of juvenile justice system contact. Estimates of the adjusted odds ratio of justice system contact per 1-point increase in ACE score ranged from 0.91 to 1.68. Results were consistent across multiple types of justice system contact and across geographic regions.

LIMITATIONS: Most studies reviewed were conducted in juvenile justice-involved populations with follow-up limited to adolescence or early adulthood.

CONCLUSIONS: ACEs are positively associated with juvenile justice system contact in a dose-response fashion. ACE prevention programs may help reduce juvenile justice system contacts and improve child and adolescent health.

[Please click here to access the article.]

Add Comment

Comments (1)

Newest · Oldest · Popular

This article would have been great had it not required that we purchase their research results.  Is there a link for us here on AcesConnection where we can review their research and documented evidence?



Thanks, Tammy

Copyright © 2023, PACEsConnection. All rights reserved.
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×