Serious youth violence and its relationship with adverse childhood experiences

Gray, Paul ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1546-9333, Smithson, Hannah ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4096-0172 and Jump, Deborah ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5525-6693 (2021) Serious youth violence and its relationship with adverse childhood experiences. Research Report. Manchester Metropolitan University.

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Abstract

Serious youth violence (SYV) is a growing concern in England and Wales. While overall crime continues to fall, SYV has been rising. Across Manchester, SYV offences have risen by over 200 per cent from 2016/17 to 2018/19. This research report presents the findings from a Youth Justice Board pathfinder project to investigate the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and SYV in Manchester. This mixed-methods research project adopted a participatory approach with youth justice professionals and justice-involved children. The methods included the re-design and delivery of a quantitative ACEs assessment tool, interviews with youth justice professionals, the training of youth justice professionals to undertake narrative interviews with children, and a series of participatory workshops with children. The report highlights the prevalence of ACEs amongst perpetrators of SYV and the complex relationship between ACEs and SYV, as well as providing an insight into ACEs and SYV from the perspective of justice-involved children.