Content Advisory
Please be aware that this content contains descriptions of violence that may be distressing to some viewers.A substantial body of research confirms that trauma exposure predicts adolescent involvement in the justice system, although the mechanisms accounting for this association are not well understood. The most recent revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013, Washington, DC) diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder introduced a new symptom, that of "self-destructive or risky behavior," which may have particular relevance to understanding posttraumatic reactions in the adolescent period and the processes by which trauma becomes associated with offending. Implications for future research and interventions with traumatized youth are discussed. (publisher abstract modified)