The role of placement experiences in mediating the criminal consequences of early childhood victimization.
The disposition of a large sample of early childhood abuse and neglect cases was followed up via criminal records. The majority of the children were placed outside the home, primarily in foster care. Kinds of placement and factors affecting placement decisions were examined. Differences in arrest rates were found between children placed solely because of abuse or neglect and those placed for abuse or neglect in conjunction with delinquency. Similar results were found for foster care placement. Placement alone did not appear to increase risk of criminal behavior.
Widom
C S
CS
Michael J. Hindelang Criminal Justice Research Center, School of Criminal Justice, State University of New York, Albany.
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology; D002655:Child Custody / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology; D003415:Crime / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003417:Criminal Psychology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005581:Foster Home Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D012931:Social Environment; D014754:Violence