ABSTRACT
Researchers use two basic approaches to examine the possible link between childhood maltreatment and subsequent oending. e rst approach is to sample maltreated children and follow them (retrospectively or prospectively) to observe rates of subsequent oending. e second approach is to sample juvenile or adult oenders and measure the rate at which they experienced maltreatment in childhood. Both approaches are strengthened when data on the maltreated sample group are compared with those for a nonmaltreated control group. Both approaches may use a variety of methods to dene childhood maltreatment including self-reporting, referral to a CPS agency, substantiation of a CPS report, or court involvement related to childhood maltreatment victimization. Similarly, subsequent oending may be dened by self-report, arrest, or conviction. Some studies also examine the relationship between maltreatment and subsequent at-risk
behaviors such as committing status oenses, becoming pregnant as a teenager, having a low grade point average (GPA), or experiencing mental health problems. e growing body of research on these issues uses a variety of methodologies but leads to a similar conclusion: “In general, people who experience any type of maltreatment in childhood... are more likely than people who were not maltreated to be arrested later in life” (Widom, 1995:4).
