Madeleine Dalsklev1, Twylla Cunningham2, Áine Travers3, Tracey McDonagh4, Ciaran Shannon5, Ciara Downes6, Donncha Hanna7. 1. Queens University Belfast, School of Psychology, David Keir Building BT7 1NN, Northern Ireland. Electronic address: mdalsklev01@qub.ac.uk. 2. Probation Board for Northern Ireland, 1D Monaghan St., Newry, BT35 6BB, Northern Ireland. Electronic address: twylla.cunningham@pbni.gsi.gov.uk. 3. University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense, Denmark. Electronic address: atravers@health.sdu.dk. 4. University of Southern Denmark, Department of Psychology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, Odense M - DK-523, Denmark. Electronic address: tmcdonagh@health.sdu.dk. 5. IMPACT Research Centre, Northern Health and Social Care Trust, Gurteen House, Antrim, BT41 2RJ, Northern Ireland. Electronic address: Ciaran.shannon@northerntrust.hscni.net. 6. Scaffold Service, Southern Health and Social Care Trust, Bocombra Lodge, Portadown BT635SG, Northern Ireland. Electronic address: Ciara.downes@southerntrsut.hscni.net. 7. Queens University Belfast, School of Psychology, David Keir Building BT7 1NN, Northern Ireland; School of Psychology, Queens University Belfast, and Centre for Evidence and Social Innovation, Queens University Belfast, Northern Ireland. Electronic address: donncha.hanna@qub.ac.uk.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: It is well-documented that there is a high prevalence rate of childhood trauma experiences among the prison population, and studies have found a link between childhood trauma and later acts of violence. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to investigate whether childhood trauma (i.e., physical, sexual, emotional abuse and physical neglect) among offenders who have served a life sentence in Northern Ireland was associated with general and violent reoffending patterns. The study also explored the relationship between childhood trauma resulting from the sectarian conflict "The Troubles" in the region and its impact on reoffending. METHOD: The casefiles of 100 offenders were coded for trauma experiences and official reoffending data was extracted. Logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the relationship between trauma and reoffending. RESULTS: The most common form of childhood trauma were emotional abuse and/or emotional neglect (n = 43), conflict-related trauma (n = 43) and physical abuse (n = 40). Only age (OR .91) and conflict-related trauma (OR 5.57) emerged as significant predictors (p < .05) of general reoffending at any time post release. Similarly, only age (OR .92) and conflict-related trauma (OR 4.57) emerged as significant predictors (p < .05) of violent reoffending. Although it did not reach significance (p = .09), childhood physical abuse was related to an increase in the odds of violently reoffending, of a large magnitude (OR 4.09). CONCLUSIONS: Conflict-related trauma significantly predicted general and violent reoffending among offenders with previous violent convictions. Crown
BACKGROUND: It is well-documented that there is a high prevalence rate of childhood trauma experiences among the prison population, and studies have found a link between childhood trauma and later acts of violence. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to investigate whether childhood trauma (i.e., physical, sexual, emotional abuse and physical neglect) among offenders who have served a life sentence in Northern Ireland was associated with general and violent reoffending patterns. The study also explored the relationship between childhood trauma resulting from the sectarian conflict "The Troubles" in the region and its impact on reoffending. METHOD: The casefiles of 100 offenders were coded for trauma experiences and official reoffending data was extracted. Logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the relationship between trauma and reoffending. RESULTS: The most common form of childhood trauma were emotional abuse and/or emotional neglect (n = 43), conflict-related trauma (n = 43) and physical abuse (n = 40). Only age (OR .91) and conflict-related trauma (OR 5.57) emerged as significant predictors (p < .05) of general reoffending at any time post release. Similarly, only age (OR .92) and conflict-related trauma (OR 4.57) emerged as significant predictors (p < .05) of violent reoffending. Although it did not reach significance (p = .09), childhood physical abuse was related to an increase in the odds of violently reoffending, of a large magnitude (OR 4.09). CONCLUSIONS: Conflict-related trauma significantly predicted general and violent reoffending among offenders with previous violent convictions. Crown