Adverse Childhood Experiences and Offender Risk to Re-offend in the United States: A Quantitative Examination

Matthew D. Moore

University of Central Arkansas, United States of America

Anthony W. Tatman

Iowa Department of Correctional Services, 5th Judicial District, United States of America

Abstract:

Adverse childhood experiences, such as witnessing physical abuse, being physically abused, and observing alcohol and drug abuse at a young age, has a significant, negative impact on a child's later life. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) scale was created to measure how these negative experiences affect children and their later adjustment. ACE scores have been linked to future violence, likelihood of incarceration, mental health issues, and a host of other future outcomes. The current analysis examined the degree to which ACE scores could predict risk for re-offense in convicted offenders. This study compared offender ACE scores against their Level of Service Inventory-Revised (LSI-R) scores, a common inventory used to assess the level of offender risk. Regression analysis revealed that offender ACE scores significantly predicted offender risk for reoffense. The results demonstrate that the adverse childhood experiences are predictive of an offender's risk to reoffend.

Keyword:

Adverse Childhood Experiences; Level of Service Inventory-Revised; Offender Risk; Assessment