Thirty-year Follow-up of the Cycle of Violence

The purpose of this research is conduct a 30-year follow-up of criminal histories for the large sample of abused and/or neglected children (N = 908) and matched controls (N = 667) in the original NIJ-funded study who have now reached middle adulthood (in 2013, the mean age of the sample was 51). There are four major goals: (1) To determine whether individuals with documented histories of child abuse and/or neglect are more likely to be arrested for partner (or domestic) violence, compared to matched controls; (2) To determine whether individuals with histories of child abuse and/or neglect are more likely to be arrested for crimes against children, compared to matched controls; (3) To determine whether individuals with documented histories of childhood sexual abuse are more likely to be arrested for sex crimes when followed up into middle adulthood, compared to matched controls; and (4) To determine whether individuals with documented histories of child abuse and/or neglect are more likely to offend, and to continue offending, in middle adulthood,compared to matched controls. This research is based on a prospective cohort design study in which physically and sexually abused and neglected children (ages 0-11) were matched with non-abused and non-neglected children and followed into adulthood. Approximately half the sample is female (51%) and 66% White, non-Hispanic. An updated criminal history search at federal and state levels and a search of the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website has been conducted for ail individuals in the sample. Statistical analyses will include chi squares, analyses of variance, and logistic, ordinary least square, and Poisson regressions. Products will include a data set, interim and final reports, numerous manuscripts submitted for publication in scholarly journals, and short research "briefs". This project is a supplement to the original project (#2011-WG-BX-0013), entitled "Thirty Year Follow up to the Cycle of Violence." ca/ncf