Childhood maltreatment and its links to offending

Abstract

The link between childhood trauma and offending has been largely overlooked in forensic psychology. This chapter argues for the central importance of childhood trauma in understanding offending behaviour. However, it is not the presence of childhood trauma per se that is criminogenic, but rather patterns of childhood trauma that are chronic and pervasive, and that compromise the child’s sense of safety. This has profound impacts on a range of developmental processes including neuropsychological development, attachment, emotional and social development, and mental health. It is argued that the most important criminogenic needs can all be understood as resulting, at least in part, from childhood trauma. Effective correctional programmes therefore need to address these trauma-related developmental processes if they are to be effective.