NCJ Number
198433
Editor(s)
Ricky Greenwald Psy.D
Date Published
2002
Length
299 pages
Annotation
This book provides information on the role trauma has to play in juvenile delinquency.
Abstract
Understanding the effects of violence on children demands an inter-disciplinary perspective that incorporates psychological, biological, sociological, anthropological, and historical insights. Each year in this country thousands of children and youth commit acts of lethal violence, half against others (murder) and half against themselves (suicide). Research has begun to show the neurological processes that translate early trauma into later dangerous behavior through brain development and neurochemistry. The first section of this book is devoted to theory and research on the relationship between trauma and juvenile delinquency. The specific topics are the role of trauma in conduct disorder; traumatic victimization in childhood and persistent problems with oppositional-defiance; assessment of PTSD and trauma exposure in adolescents; antisocial behavior and delinquency; violence exposure and PTSD among delinquent girls; the relationship between violence exposure, PTSD, and delinquent activity; and neurobiological disturbances in youth with childhood trauma and in youth with conduct disorder. The second section discusses empirically based trauma-focused interventions for juvenile delinquent and related populations. Topics covered include development of trauma-focused treatment for incarcerated juveniles; cognitive processing therapy for PTSD; a study of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) for boys with conduct problems; and motivation-adaptive-skills –trauma resolution (MASTR) therapy. If unresolved trauma is a significant risk factor in juvenile delinquency, then prevention and early intervention efforts should be modified accordingly. Index