“Responding to Victimized Youth: Strategies to Break the Cycle of Offending”

• In Event: Crossover Youth: Juveniles Involved in Multiple Systems

Abstract

The Attorney General’s Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence estimates that approximately 46 million of the 76 million children living in the U.S.(60%) are likely to be exposed to crime, violence, abuse and psychological trauma this year (www.justice.gov/defendingchildhood/cev-executive-sum.pdf). Increasingly, the literature documents that exposure to violence and trauma can have long-lasting effects. This paper discusses the research on child victimization and trauma including youth homicide. For survivors who subsequently offend, the trauma-informed-approach has been utilized with success in treating youth in residential treatment programs. Research indicates that evidence based strategies and programs aimed at prevention have also been implemented effectively. The authors review data on the prevalence of victimization and assess the significance of prevention and treatment in breaking the offending cycle.

Authors

• Alida Merlo, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

• Peter Benekos, Mercyhurst University

• Bitna Kim, Indiana University of Pennsylvania