Family Trauma and the Cycle of Crime 197FAMILY TRAUMA AND THE CYCLE OF CRIME
Introduction
An increasing number of children are living in chaotic familial and commu-
nal environments. Conservative estimates indicate that over 1 million children are
abused and neglected each year in the United States alone (National Center on
Child Abuse and Neglect, 1994). These children are often exposed to exorbitant:
levels of trauma characterized by parental neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, do-
mestic violence, and inconsistent discipline from parental figures. The biological,
psychological, and social repercussions of children growing up with such trauma
are numerous. Of particular interest, however, is the significance of family trauma
and its relation to intergenerational cycles of antisocial and criminal behavior. The
relationship between one's traumatic upbringing and the perpetuation of criminal
behavior in adolescence and adulthood has been clearly noted in the literature.
Empirical evidence does suggest that the growing numbers of adolescent and adult
criminal offenders come from backgrounds plagued with varying levels of trauma.
However, currently there are no concentrated efforts made to address this issue in
terms of prevention and effective intervention measures. The following case illus-
trates how a young male, who lived in a chaotic familial environment, resorted to
violence.
Fifteen-year-old Arnold was arrested and incarcerated after he fatally stabbed his
mother's boyfriend of 2 months. As a young child, Arnold had been exposed to numer-
ous distressing events. On many occasions he observed his biological father physically
assaulting his mother. Arnold's father physically abused him and often used objects such
as belts, electric cords, and wooden planks. As a young child, Arnold was left alone in
the house for days at a time without any guidance or supervision. Subsequently, Arnold
began having numerous difficulties both at home and at school. His teachers reported
that during class, he seemed distracted and irritable and he would often engage in phys-
ical altercations with other classmates. He began to exhibit increasingly dangerous and
reckless behaviors; spoke perseveratively about weapons, stabbings, and the physical abuse
he had witnessed; and expressed vague fears that he himself would come to harm others.
The night of the stabbing, Arnold witnessed his mother and her boyfriend arguing in
the living room. Arnold was unable to tolerate his mother's boyfriend's argumentative
behavior and, hence, Arnold impulsively reached for a kitchen knife and proceeded to
stab him. Arnold was charged with assault with a deadly weapon and is currently awaiting
sentencing.Literature Review
As a result of Arnold s case and those that are similar, it is apparent that the perpetu-
ation of violence within families needs to be thoroughly examined and, ultimately,
prevented. The results of exposure to severe familial violence is not randomly
distributed within the population. Some children are substantially more likely to