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Article 1: Blame Their Mothers: Public Opinion About Maternal Employment as a Cause of Juvenile Delinquency

Abstract: Feminist Criminology 1–24 © The Author(s) 2016 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1557085115624759 fcx.sagepub.com
Juvenile justice reformers and practitioners have long blamed mothers for juvenile delinquency, identifying maternal employment as a key cause of youthful offending. The current study uses data from registered voters (N = 10,144) to examine public views about whether maternal employment in two-parent households promotes juvenile delinquency. The results show that only a small minority of citizens blame working mothers for youth crime. The findings also reveal that views about the criminogenic consequences of maternal employment for children are predicted by factors that are strongly associated with gendered self-interest and exposure to nonegalitarian narratives. Implications of the findings are discussed.
 

Article 2: Interrelatedness of Adverse Childhood Experiences Among High-Risk Juvenile Offenders 

Abstract: The interrelatedness of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in 64,329 juvenile offenders was examined. ACEs include childhood abuse (physical, emotional, and sexual), neglect (physical and emotional), and household dysfunction (family violence, family substance use, family mental illness, separation/divorce, and family incarceration). Prevalence ranged from 12% to 82% for each ACE. Of youth experiencing one ACE 67.5% reported four or more additional exposures and 24.5% exposure to six or more additional ACEs. Females have higher prevalence and multiple exposures. ACEs are interrelated, necessitating assessment of multiple ACEs rather than one or a few. ACE exposure differs by gender and race/ethnicity.
 

Article 3: Which Bond Matters More? Assessing the Differential Strengths of Parental Bonding Measures on Adolescent Delinquency Over Time

Abstract: Although Hirschi’s social bonds theory, especially the attachment component, has received a large amount of empirical support in the literature, research has not clarified whether it matters if the juvenile is attached to his or her mother or his or her father. This study addresses this issue by analyzing the impact of three attachment measures—the juveniles’ perceived attachment to their mother, their father, and both parents combined—on self-reported delinquency using a nationally representative data source. Cross-sectional and longitudinal results reveal mixed results. A discussion of the results and directions for future research are presented.