Bender_2010_Children-and-Youth-Services-Review.pdf

Children and Youth Services Review 32 (2010) 466–473 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Children and Youth Services Review j ourna l homepage: www.e lsev ie / locate /ch i ldyouthDiscussion Why do some maltreated youth become juvenile offenders? A call for further investigation and adaptation of youth services Kimberly Bender ? University of Denver, Graduate School of Social Work, 2148 S. High St., Denver, CO 80208, United States? Tel.: +1 303 871 6760; fax: +1 303 871 2845. E-mail address: Kimberly.bender@. 0190-7409/$ – see front matter ? 2009 Elsevier Ltd. Al doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2009.10.022a b s t r a c ta r t i c l e i n f oArticle history: Received 14 May 2009 Received in revised form 29 October 2009 Accepted 29 October 2009 Available online 6 November 2009 Keywords: Victimization Maltreatment Juvenile delinquency Adolescent mental health Substance use School engagement GenderExperiencing maltreatment is an established risk factor for delinquency. Yet, an understanding of the maltreatment–delinquency link is incomplete as few models have elucidated how maltreated youth become juvenile delinquents. This paper utilizes the latest empirical evidence to propose a diagram detailing pathways from maltreatment to delinquency through potential intervening risk factors, including substance abuse, mental health problems, school difficulties, negative peer networks, and running away from home. Hypothesized gender differences in pathways from maltreatment to delinquency are delineated. Implications for adaptation of child welfare and juvenile justice services to address the link between maltreatment and delinquency are discussed. This paper calls for testing and refining of the proposed pathways from maltreatment to delinquency in order to advance understanding of these complex relationships.l rights reserved.? 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.1. Introduction In the United States, approximately 3 million cases of child abuse or neglect are reported annual