Dr Carleen Thonpson, Dr Emily Hurren, Dr James Ogilvie, Prof Lisa Broidy, Dr Diksha Sapkota, Dr Troy Allard, Jaana Haaja, Dr Belinda Crissman, Simon Little, April Chrzanowski, Prof Susan Dennison
1Griffith Criminology Institute, Australia
Biography:
Dr Carleen Thompson is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Co-Lead of the Queensland Cross-sector Research Collaboration (QCRC), and Project Investigator on the Transforming Corrections to Transform Lives (TCTL) project. Carleen’s research aims to improve understanding of the causes and progression of offending, to support evidence-based intervention planning that reduces reoffending.
Abstract:
Research suggests that there may be sex differences in the role of child maltreatment and mental health in offending pathways. This study examines sex differences in the links between child protection system (CPS) notifications and criminal justice system (CJS) contacts into young adulthood, with consideration of both lifetime mental health (MH) contacts and the characteristics of CPS contacts (i.e. types and timing of maltreatment). We utilised state-wide longitudinal linked administrative data for all individuals registered as born in Queensland in 1990 (N= 45,153, 48.6% females). Data include all CPS notifications and periods of out-of-home care (OOHC) (0-17 years), all official offending contacts from age 10 to 24 years (police cautions, proven offences in court, detention/incarceration), and MH contacts between ages 4/5 to 23/24 years. Findings extend understanding of the complexity of CPS-CJS links and similarities and differences in pathways across sex. Results support cross-sector holistic care for maltreated individuals, trauma-informed responses within detention and correctional practices, and increased intervention and support for adolescents in OOHC.