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Article 1: Ryan, J. (2006). Dependent youth in juvenile justice: Do positive peer culture programs work for victims of child maltreatment? Research on Social Work Practice, 16(5), 511–519.

Abstract: Objective: The purpose of this study is to identify and determine the individual- and group-level factors associated with recidivism for children in a long-term Positive Peer Culture (PPC) program. The current study focuses specific attention on the role of child maltreatment in understanding the risk of recidivism. It is widely accepted that victims of child abuse and neglect are more likely to engage in delinquent behavior as compared with their nonmaltreated counterparts. Yet, little is known about dependent youth in the juvenile justice system. The maltreatment-delinquency literature focuses almost exclusively on the initial risk of juvenile or adult offending. Moreover, the comparison groups are always children in the general population rather than children in the juvenile justice system. Method: The sample includes 286 adjudicated delinquent offenders. Hierarchical nonlinear modeling is used to partition effects at the individual and group levels. Results: Overall, 117 (41%) of the sample was arrested. Youth with a history of physical abuse and neglect were more likely to have a subsequent arrest (50% vs. 37%). Conclusion: PPC programs may not be the most effective strategy for dependent youth in the juvenile justice system.

Article 2: Jones, L. M., Finkelhor, D., & Halter, S. (2006). Child maltreatment trends in the 1990s: Why does neglect differ from sexual and physical abuse? Child Maltreatment, 11(2), 107–120.

Abstract: Substantiated cases of child maltreatment have declined more than 20% since a peak in 1993. However, although sexual abuse and physical abuse showed significant declines during the 1990s (47% and 36%, respectively), neglect fluctuated, with only a small overall decline during this period (7%). Available data suggest that at least part of the declines in sexual and physical abuse is likely to be real. Some evidence also suggests that a decline in neglect may have been masked in some states. Possible sources for declines in child maltreatment include direct prevention efforts, economic improvements, more aggressive criminal justice efforts, dissemination of psychiatric medication, and generational changes. Public health models suggest that population-level prevention initiatives are the most promising options for further reducing maltreatment rates. However, better epidemiological and evaluation research will be needed to identify the key factors.

Article 3: Scudder, R., Blount, W., Heide, K. & Silverman, I. (1993). Important links between child abuse, neglect, and delinquency. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 37(4), 315–323.

Abstract: Many studies over the last 40 years have suggested links between child maltreatment and later delinquency. However, these studies have frequently been methodologically weak. The present study investigated the linkage between child abuse and delinquency using a randomly selected sample of children from a cohort who attended schools in West Central Florida. This study found a significant relationship between abuse and delinquency.