ABSTRACT
Child abuse and neglect have been documented in many studies of juvenile homicide offenders. In this chapter, we explore the biological and psychological effects of trauma and how they can impact emotional regulation, decision-making, and behavior. As is typical of childhood trauma survivors, juvenile homicide offenders often have problems with attachment to others and experience traumatic stress. This early stress negatively impacts brain development and endocrine function, leading to physiological and emotional dysregulation. Our review of research studies and our clinical observations indicate that juveniles who experience childhood maltreatment, relative to those who do not, are at greater risk of making poor decisions and behaving maladaptively, including violently. Our synthesis of the literature and our clinical experiences provide convincing evidence that individuals who have been neglected and abused should be given access to trauma-informed therapy to help them heal and to reduce the likelihood that they will hurt others.
