Breaking the Cycle: Intergenerational Trauma and its Implications on Criminality and Victimization

Acute, chronic or complex childhood trauma, such as exposure to abuse and neglect, violence in the familial setting or parental criminality, are strongly associated with the development of criminal behaviors later in life... [ view full abstract ]

Acute, chronic or complex childhood trauma, such as exposure to abuse and neglect, violence in the familial setting or parental criminality, are strongly associated with the development of criminal behaviors later in life (Scott & Copping, 2008). Intergenerational or historic trauma is often passed from one generation to the next, and impacts the propensity for the continuous systematic progression or perpetration of criminal behavior, or victimization, and other behavioral effects that are often not noticed or may be normalized in the family unit. Within this presentation, attendees will learn about the intergenerational transmission of trauma, the transgenerational impact of adverse experiences on the propensity to perpetrate crime, and the implications of Adverse Childhood Experiences on the overall outcomes of persons that get involved in the criminal justice system.  Attendees will gain further perspective on how to incorporate concepts of the Intergenerational Trauma Treatment Model (ITTM) when working with persons in the criminal justice system, other treatment modalities that may be applied, gain insight into additional resources, and information relating to understanding how and why childhood abuse may lead to future adulthood victimization or perpetration. Interactive learning will be incorporated through scenario-based vignettes, group discussions, and role playing elements of information learned in the workshop.