NCJ Number
166803
Journal
Indian Journal of Criminology Volume: 24 Issue: 1 & 2 Dated: (January & July 1996) Pages: 44-59
Date Published
1996
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This paper critically examines existing literature from the fields of sociology, psychology, psychiatry, medicine, law, criminology, and social work on the association between child abuse and juvenile delinquency.
Abstract
Organized into five sections, the literature review includes clinical, laboratory and experimental, survey design, longitudinal retrospective, and longitudinal prospective studies. The author notes that discrepancies in research methodologies impede the proper assessment of the connection between child abuse and juvenile delinquency. Several studies maintain child abuse is highly associated with delinquent and other criminal behavior, while other studies claim no relationship between child abuse and juvenile delinquency. Much research on consequences of child abuse focuses on subsequent delinquent and criminal behavior but sometimes overlooks other effects of child abuse such as depression, withdrawal, poor self-concept, and poor self- confidence. Further research is recommended to focus on these less evident but dangerous effects of child abuse, intermediate effects of child abuse that may enhance the victim's vulnerability to delinquent and criminal behavior, and the development of more sophisticated research techniques. 53 references