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Pathways from Traumatic Child Victimization to Delinquency: Implications for Juvenile and Permanency Court Proceedings and Decisions |
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| Authors: | JULIAN D. FORD JOHN CHAPMAN JUDGE MICHAEL MACK GERALDINE PEARSON |
| Affiliation: | 1. Julian D. Ford, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Behavioral Health Services Research Division at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. He served as the Director of the Center for Trauma Response, Recovery, and Preparedness, Director of Research and Assessment for the Yale/University of Connecticut Center for Violent Child Trauma, and Co-Chair of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network Juvenile Justice Work Group. 5Department of Psychiatry, MC1410 University of Connecticut Health Center 263 Farmington Avenue Farmington, CT 06030 6State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Court Support Services Division 936 Silas Deane Hwy. Wethersfield, CT 06109 7Supreme Court Building 231 Capitol Avenue Hartford, CT 06106 8APRN Department of Psychiatry University of Connecticut Health Center 263 Farmington Avenue Farmington, CT 06030;2. John Chapman, Psy.D., is the Clinical Superintendent for the State of Connecticut, Judicial Branch's Court Support Services Division and has worked for more than 15 years as a clinical provider, administrator, and researcher in juvenile justice. He manages health care for several nationally accredited juvenile detention programs in Connecticut, and has developed an evidence-based behavioral health screening and risk detection system for these programs. 5Department of Psychiatry, MC1410 University of Connecticut Health Center 263 Farmington Avenue Farmington, CT 06030 6State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Court Support Services Division 936 Silas Deane Hwy. Wethersfield, CT 06109 7Supreme Court Building 231 Capitol Avenue Hartford, CT 06106 8APRN Department of Psychiatry University of Connecticut Health Center 263 Farmington Avenue Farmington, CT 06030;3. Judge Michael Mack, J.D., served many years on the bench in juvenile and family court prior to becoming Chief Juvenile Court Judge. He is currently Deputy Chief Court Administrator for the State of Connecticut's Judicial Branch with responsibility for, and oversight of, all state court operations. 5Department of Psychiatry, MC1410 University of Connecticut Health Center 263 Farmington Avenue Farmington, CT 06030 6State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Court Support Services Division 936 Silas Deane Hwy. Wethersfield, CT 06109 7Supreme Court Building 231 Capitol Avenue Hartford, CT 06106 8APRN Department of Psychiatry University of Connecticut Health Center 263 Farmington Avenue Farmington, CT 06030;4. Geraldine Pearson, Ph.D., APRN, is an advanced practice psychiatric nursing professional, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, and Director of the Emily J Consent Decree-mandated HomeCare program for youths in the juvenile justice system with mental health needs. She has worked for more than 20 years as a clinician, administrator, and researcher in children's mental health and juvenile justice programs in Connecticut. 5Department of Psychiatry, MC1410 University of Connecticut Health Center 263 Farmington Avenue Farmington, CT 06030 6State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Court Support Services Division 936 Silas Deane Hwy. Wethersfield, CT 06109 7Supreme Court Building 231 Capitol Avenue Hartford, CT 06106 8APRN Department of Psychiatry University of Connecticut Health Center 263 Farmington Avenue Farmington, CT 06030 |
| Abstract: | Research studies and observations by mental health and judicial professionals suggest that childhood traumatic victimization may contribute to the development of juvenile delinquency. Based on this evidence, we describe a chronological pathway that runs from: (a) early childhood victimization, to (b) escalating dysregulation of emotion and social information processing (“survival coping,” which takes the form of depression, anxiety, social isolation, peer rejection, and conflicted relationships), to (c) severe and persistent problems with oppositional‐defiance and overt or covert aggression compounded by post‐traumatic reactivity and hypervigilance (“victim coping”). A case vignette is provided, and implications for judicial review and decisions are discussed. |
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