title: Explaining homeless youths' criminal justice interactions: childhood trauma or surviving life on the streets?
abstract: Homeless youth are at increased risk for involvement in the criminal justice system. This study investigated childhood trauma as a risk factor for arrest or jail among a sample of youth seeking services at drop in, shelter, and transitional housing settings, while controlling for more established risk factors including: substance use, peer deviance, and engagement in survival behaviors. Standardized and researcher developed measures collected quantitative data through face-to-face interviews with youth (N = 202). Two sequential logic regression models identified significant predictors of arrest and jail, with a particular interest in the effects of childhood maltreatment. Youth with a history of physical abuse were nearly twice as likely to be arrested and to be jailed compared to non-abused youth, controlling for the significant influence of drug use and survival behaviors. These findings suggest the need for trauma screening and trauma-informed services for homeless youth at risk of illegal behavior.
authors: College of Social Work, The Ohio State University, 1947 College Rd, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA, yoder.333@osu.edu.
authors: Jamie Rae
authors: JR
authors: Yoder
authors: Kimberly
authors: K
authors: Bender
authors: Sanna J
authors: SJ
authors: Thompson
authors: Kristin M
authors: KM
authors: Ferguson
authors: Badiah
authors: B
authors: Haffejee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D064423:Drug Trafficking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D018453:Homeless Youth / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D011477:Sex Work / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D013800:Theft / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult