Adverse childhood experiences and trauma among people in prison: what has been measured, how it compares, and what Georgia knows
This collection sets out facts from public sources on the subject in its title, drawn from Georgia, federal sources, California, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Oklahoma, Vermont, national and multi-state sources and other sources. Each entry gives a short statement, the exact passage from the source that supports it, and the source's title, web address and the date it was retrieved. Searches of a source that found no match are listed too, with the wordings that were tried. The entries record what each source said when it was retrieved. They aren't a complete account of the subject, and they don't add analysis or conclusions.
Where this research is used
This page is a research collection: individual facts drawn from the sources listed further down, each traced to where it came from. A research topic brings many collections together into one overview of an issue. The facts on this page feed these 5 topics; open one to see how they fit with the rest of the evidence.
Healthcare & Medical Neglect
Georgia's prison healthcare system fails the constitutional floor on a documented, repeated basis: the federal Department of Justice concluded in October 2024 that medical care in Georgia prisons is 'abhorrent,' 'life-threatening' and unconstitutional, with people waiting months for treatment and roughly 10% of those with Hepatitis C or HIV receiving it. The state has outsourced the duty to a succession of contractors — Georgia Correctional HealthCare until 2021, Wellpath for three years, and Centurion Health since July 2024 under a $2.40 billion nine-year contract — while the Health program appropriation reached $432,247,728 for fiscal year 2027. What the record leaves is a delivery system that cannot staff itself, a mortality record the Department stopped explaining in March 2024, and named dead people whose settlements the state pays years later.
4,808 data points
Mortality & Deaths in Custody
Georgia's prison system recorded at least 1,915 deaths in custody between January 1, 2020, and the registry cutoff — a floor, not a total, because the Georgia Department of Corrections reports deaths roughly two months late and stopped publishing cause of death in March 2024. Homicides rose from a ceiling of nine a year (2011–2018) to 142 across 2018–2023, a 95.8% increase in the last three years, while the department's own mortality data classified obvious homicides as unknown and medical examiners recorded at least 44 overdose deaths the department had labeled natural or undetermined. The same reporting collapse now covers suicide, heat death, and medical neglect — the categories in which the state's own records show people dying unattended in cells for days.
8,758 data points
Recidivism & Reentry
Georgia reports one of the lowest recidivism rates in the nation — a 25 to 27 percent three-year felony reconviction rate — but that figure counts only new felony convictions, only within three years, and only among people who survive the window. Georgia's own reconviction rate has climbed every year since 2019, reaching 30.7 percent for the 2022 release cohort even as the state spends more than a billion dollars a year on corrections, releases 12,000 to 16,000 people annually with almost no preparation, and funds vocational education at $172,000 statewide. The evidence on what works is unusually clear — education, vocational training, cognitive-behavioral programming, and transitional beds all correlate with substantially lower recidivism — and Georgia has systematized almost none of it at scale.
12,548 data points
Solitary Confinement
Georgia confines thousands of people in a three-tier segregation system it does not call solitary confinement and does not fully count. Its written policy floors put people in Tier I and Tier II in a cell 23.3 hours a day, and its Special Management Unit has held people for years after its own experts described the harm as possibly irreversible. The published record shows the program with the weakest rules — Tier II — is more than five times the size of the unit a federal court reformed.
2,292 data points
Violence & Safety
Georgia's prisons kill people at several times the national rate, and the state's own records understate how often. A three-year federal civil rights investigation concluded in October 2024 that Georgia violates the Eighth Amendment by failing to protect incarcerated people from violence and sexual abuse, finding "near-constant life-threatening violence" and gang control of housing units. The documented record runs from 142 homicides in six years to more than 1,400 violent incidents in sixteen months — and a death registry that keeps growing.
11,037 data points
Key Findings
The most impactful data from this research collection. Tap a card for the full finding and its source.
The finding
Among male Welsh prisoners, those with ≥4 ACEs had an adjusted odds ratio of 7.98 (CI 1.85-34.42, P=0.005) for suicide attempt while in prison compared with those with no ACEs.
The finding
A study using the ACE Questionnaire found that a sample of violent offenders experienced childhood adversity, on average, at four times the rate of the general population (Reavis, 2013).
The finding
Georgia's donut chart of ACEs in Georgia's adult population shows 18% of adults with 4+ ACEs.
The finding
Dierkhising et al.'s study states that up to 90% of justice-involved youth report exposure to some type of traumatic event, and approximately 30% of youth meet criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The finding
The Compassion Prison Project's website states that 98% of the prison population has at least one ACE, attributing the figure to the organization itself rather than to an external peer-reviewed study.
The finding
The percentage of Georgia BRFSS respondents reporting 4 or more Adverse Childhood Experiences rose across four survey years: 13.2% in 2016, 14.3% in 2018, 18.0% in 2020, and 23.1% in 2023.
The finding
Prior studies found that between 62-87% of incarcerated adult males have experienced trauma exposure at some point in their lifetime, prior to incarceration (Pettus-Davis, 2014; Wolff et al., 2014).
The finding
In a longitudinal study of Florida juvenile justice-involved youth, each additional type of childhood trauma was associated with an 11% increase in the likelihood of a subsequent violent felony arrest.
The finding
GDC's Inmate Services Impact Report for Fiscal Year 2019 reported that 40% of male inmates and 35% of female inmates had been assessed as high-risk and high-need due to past trauma and in need of trauma related programming, under a Trauma Informed Program using Seeking Safety.
The finding
In Georgia DJJ's FY2024 Annual Report, 39% of youth's mental health diagnoses in RYDCs and YDCs (secure facilities) were Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders.
Source
The finding
The Urban Institute's Urban Wire article states that research shows around 61 percent of the general population has had at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE), and that number is closer to 97 percent for people in prison, with only the 61 percent figure linked to a citation (CDC) and no citation link attached to the 97 percent prison figure.
The finding
In a study of Florida juvenile offenders, juvenile offenders were 13 times less likely to report zero ACEs (2.8% compared to 36%) and four times more likely to report four or more ACEs (50% compared to 13%) than Felitti and Anda's Kaiser Permanente-insured population used in the original ACE study.
The finding
An NIC-funded report on women's correctional facilities states that some studies note rates of trauma histories among women inmates as high as 90%.
The finding
An Indiana state document adapted from SAMHSA and Policy Research Associates trauma-informed-justice materials states it is estimated that 85 percent of women in correctional settings have an early experience of physical and/or sexual abuse.
Source
The finding
A BJS table on prior abuse of correctional populations gives, for State prison inmates, 18.7% total / 16.1% male / 57.2% female ever abused before admission, and 14.4% male / 36.7% female abused before age 18.
The finding
A BJS sidebar table 'Percent of State inmates reporting abuse' gives, by childhood living arrangement: both parents 14.0% male / 54.7% female; one parent 16.4% male / 57.3% female; foster/agency/other 43.6% male / 86.7% female.
All Data Points
284 verified data points extracted from primary sources.
Florida juvenile offender males with 5+ ACEs Statistic
In Baglivio et al.'s Florida juvenile offender ACE study, 27.4% of males reported five or more ACEs.
27.4%
Source
Minnesota DOC ACE assessment pilot scope Methodology note
The Minnesota DOC needs and responsivity assessment used to measure ACEs was piloted in spring 2021; half of approximately 6,700 male incarcerated persons at 10 all-male prisons were randomly selected, and all 400 women at the only all-female facility were invited to participate.
Welsh male prisoners with ≥4 ACEs had 7.98 adjusted odds ratio for suicide attempt in prison Statistic
Among male Welsh prisoners, those with ≥4 ACEs had an adjusted odds ratio of 7.98 (CI 1.85-34.42, P=0.005) for suicide attempt while in prison compared with those with no ACEs.
8.0 adjusted odds ratio
Pooled cumulative ACE prevalence in youth offenders (Astridge et al. meta-analysis) Statistic
In Astridge et al.'s meta-analysis, the pooled prevalence of cumulative ACEs in youth offenders was 39.6%, estimated across eight studies.
39.6%
Georgia ACE module consists of 11 questions, data collected 2016 and 2018 Methodology note
Georgia's ACEs module, administered as part of the Georgia Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, consists of 11 questions, with data collected in 2016 and 2018.
Childhood physical trauma prevalence among incarcerated men Statistic
In Wolff & Shi's study of 3,895 male inmates, 44.7% reported physical trauma as a minor (age under 18).
44.7%
Welsh Prisoner ACE Survey sample size and timeframe Methodology note
The Prisoner ACE Survey interviewed 468 adults aged 18-69 in a Welsh prison between February and June 2018, asking about exposure to 11 ACEs in childhood, offending history, and recent involvement in violence.
AHR ACE measure definition: children 0-17 with 2+ ACEs Methodology note
America's Health Rankings defines its adverse childhood experiences measure as the percentage of children ages 0-17 who have ever experienced two or more of a list of adverse experiences: parental divorce or separation; household with an alcohol or drug problem; household with mental illness; neighborhood violence victim or witness; domestic violence witness; parent served jail time; and related items.
BJS: Abuse rates by family incarceration history among State inmates Statistic
BJS report sidebar table shows 20.2% of male and 63.9% of female State inmates with a family member incarcerated reported abuse, versus 12.3% male and 46.9% female with no family member incarcerated.
20.2% vs. 12.3 male inmates without family member incarcerated
Federal inmates reporting prior physical or sexual abuse Statistic
BJS's report found that 9.5% of Federal prison inmates reported ever having been physically or sexually abused before admission.
9.5%
Florida juvenile offender male subsample with at least one ACE Statistic
In Baglivio et al.'s Florida juvenile offender ACE study, the male subsample who reported at least one ACE indicator numbered 48,844.
48,844 people
Source
Violent offenders ACE rate four times general population Finding
A study using the ACE Questionnaire found that a sample of violent offenders experienced childhood adversity, on average, at four times the rate of the general population (Reavis, 2013).
Sexual abuse most studied ACE but lowest pooled prevalence (12%) in incarcerated males Finding
In the Umpunjun, Webb and Morris meta-analysis of ACEs in incarcerated males, sexual abuse was the most frequently studied ACE (80%) yet had the lowest pooled prevalence estimate (12%, 95% CI 8-16%), while emotional neglect had the highest pooled prevalence estimate (38%, 95% CI 28-50%), followed by intimate partner violence (36%, 95% CI 28-44%) and parental separation (36%, 95% CI 24).
Pooled prevalence range for individual ACE items in youth offenders Statistic
Fourteen studies in Astridge et al.'s meta-analysis reported prevalence of the 10 individual ACE items, with pooled prevalence ranging between 13.5% and 52.3%.
Childhood sexual trauma prevalence among incarcerated men Statistic
In Wolff & Shi's study of 3,895 male inmates, 10.9% reported sexual trauma as a minor (age under 18).
10.9%
Georgia ACE study used BRFSS data from 8,227 Georgia respondents Methodology note
A study of adverse childhood experiences in Georgia used Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data, with analyses limited to the 8,227 respondents from Georgia.
Canada CSC: Majority of offenders experienced at least one ACE Statistic
Correctional Service of Canada research report found 80% of men and 86% of women offenders experienced at least one adverse childhood experience.
80% vs. 86 women offenders
Jail inmates reporting prior physical or sexual abuse Statistic
BJS's report found that 16.4% of jail inmates reported ever having been physically or sexually abused before admission.
16.4%
Florida juvenile offender males with 2+ ACEs Statistic
In Baglivio et al.'s Florida juvenile offender ACE study, among males who reported at least one ACE indicator, 89% reported two or more.
89%
Source
One in six male inmates reported childhood physical and sexual abuse Statistic
National survey data found one in six male prison inmates reported physical and sexual abuse in childhood, and over half (56%) reported physical trauma during childhood (Wolff & Shi, 2012).
56%
Umpunjun meta-analysis included 50 papers and 48,648 participants Methodology note
A systematic review and meta-analysis by Umpunjun, Webb and Morris on the prevalence of types of adverse childhood experiences in incarcerated males included fifty papers with 48,648 participants, primarily from western countries (86%, k=43), with pooled prevalence estimates calculated using random effect models.
ACE prevalence range among 64,329 juvenile offenders (Baglivio & Epps) Statistic
In Baglivio and Epps's study examining interrelatedness of ACEs among 64,329 juvenile offenders, prevalence ranged from 12% to 82% for each individual ACE.
18% of Georgia adults report 4+ ACEs Statistic
Georgia's donut chart of ACEs in Georgia's adult population shows 18% of adults with 4+ ACEs.
18%
Odds ratio for depression treatment from childhood physical trauma Statistic
Among incarcerated men, childhood physical trauma before age 18 was associated with an odds ratio of 1.40 for depression treatment.
1.4 odds ratio
46% of Welsh prisoners reported 4 or more ACEs Statistic
Nearly half (46%) of prisoners in the Welsh Prisoner ACE Survey had 4 or more ACEs.
46%
NSCH 2016-17 Georgia: 23.7% of children had 2+ ACEs Statistic
In a National Survey of Children's Health query for Georgia (2016-17), 55.4% of children had no adverse childhood experiences, 20.9% had one ACE, and 23.7% had two or more ACEs.
23.7% vs. 55.4 percent with no ACEs
BJS: Foster care history among jail inmates 2002 vs 1996 Statistic
BJS Profile of Jail Inmates Table 15 shows 11.5% in 2002 and 13.6% in 1996 ever lived in a foster home, agency, or institution while growing up.
11.5% vs. 13.6 1996 rate
Prior abuse among state prisoners raised in foster/institutional care Statistic
Harlow's BJS report found that among State prison inmates who had grown up in foster care, agency, or other institutional care, 43.6% of men and 86.7% of women reported prior abuse.
43.6% vs. 86.7 percent (women)
Florida juvenile offender female subsample with one or more ACEs Statistic
In Baglivio et al.'s Florida juvenile offender ACE study, the female subsample with one or more ACE indicators numbered 13,692.
13,692 people
Source
Morrison et al. sample methodology Methodology note
The Morrison et al. study analyzed a cross-sectional data set from structured interviews in 2015-2016 of a randomly selected sample of 67 men within six to nine months of release from Missouri state prisons, using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and Trauma History Questionnaire, not the ACE questionnaire.
Up to 90% of justice-involved youth report traumatic event exposure Statistic
Dierkhising et al.'s study states that up to 90% of justice-involved youth report exposure to some type of traumatic event, and approximately 30% of youth meet criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
90% vs. 30 PTSD prevalence
Compassion Prison Project claim: 98% of prison population has at least one ACE Statistic
The Compassion Prison Project's website states that 98% of the prison population has at least one ACE, attributing the figure to the organization itself rather than to an external peer-reviewed study.
98%
Georgia ACE respondents reporting ACEs n=11,581 Statistic
This Georgia report's ACE data came from respondents reporting ACEs totaling n=11,581.
11,581 respondents
Odds ratio for anxiety treatment from childhood physical trauma Statistic
Among incarcerated men, childhood physical trauma before age 18 was associated with an odds ratio of 1.42 for anxiety treatment.
1.4 odds ratio
16% of Welsh prisoners reported 0 ACEs Statistic
In the Welsh Prisoner ACE Survey, 16% of prisoners reported 0 ACEs.
16%
Georgia BRFSS 4+ ACEs rose from 13.2% (2016) to 23.1% (2023) Trend
The percentage of Georgia BRFSS respondents reporting 4 or more Adverse Childhood Experiences rose across four survey years: 13.2% in 2016, 14.3% in 2018, 18.0% in 2020, and 23.1% in 2023.
BJS: Family member incarceration among jail inmates 2002 vs 1996 Statistic
BJS Profile of Jail Inmates Table 15 shows 46.3% in 2002 and 46.1% in 1996 reported a family member had ever been incarcerated.
46.3% vs. 46.1 1996 rate
Prior abuse among state prisoners whose parent abused alcohol/drugs Statistic
Harlow's BJS report found that among State prison inmates whose parent abused alcohol or drugs while they were growing up, 29.4% of men and 75.7% of women reported prior abuse.
29.4% vs. 75.7 percent (women)
Florida juvenile offender females with 2+ ACEs Statistic
In Baglivio et al.'s Florida juvenile offender ACE study, among females with one or more ACE indicators, 92% reported at least two ACEs.
92%
Source
62-87% of incarcerated adult males experienced trauma prior to incarceration Finding
Prior studies found that between 62-87% of incarcerated adult males have experienced trauma exposure at some point in their lifetime, prior to incarceration (Pettus-Davis, 2014; Wolff et al., 2014).
62% of justice-involved youth had trauma onset within first 5 years of life Statistic
In Dierkhising et al.'s study sample of justice-involved adolescents, age of onset of trauma exposure was within the first 5 years of life for 62% of youth, and 23.6% of youth met criteria for PTSD and 66.1% were in the clinical range for externalizing problems.
62%
Prevalence of individual ACE types among Georgia respondents Statistic
This Georgia ACE report lists prevalence of individual ACE types among respondents reporting ACEs as: Divorce 33%, Substance Abuse 25.9%, Emotional Abuse 25.2%, Domestic Violence 18.6%, Physical Abuse 16.3%, Mental Illness 15.2%, Sexual Abuse 12.9%, and Incarceration 9.5%.
Odds ratio for substance abuse treatment from childhood sexual trauma Statistic
Among incarcerated men, childhood sexual trauma before age 18 was associated with an odds ratio of 1.41 for substance abuse treatment.
1.4 odds ratio
18% of Welsh prisoners reported 1 ACE Statistic
In the Welsh Prisoner ACE Survey, 18% of prisoners reported 1 ACE.
18%
Georgia BRFSS: lived with someone who had been to prison rose 4.8% (2016) to 8.7% (2023) Trend
The share of Georgia BRFSS respondents who reported having lived with someone who had been to prison rose from 4.8% in 2016 to 8.7% in 2023 (5.6% in 2018, 7.4% in 2020).
BJS: Physical/sexual abuse before age 18 among jail inmates Statistic
BJS Profile of Jail Inmates Table 17 shows 10.9% in 2002 and 11.6% in 1996 reported physical or sexual abuse before age 18; by sex, 9.7% male (10.6% in 1996) and 20.3% female (20.8% in 1996) in 2002.
10.9% vs. 11.6 1996 rate
Prior abuse among state prisoners with incarcerated family member Statistic
Harlow's BJS report found that among State prison inmates who had a family member ever incarcerated, 20.2% of men and 63.9% of women reported prior abuse.
20.2% vs. 63.9 percent (women)
Physical neglect and violent felony arrest odds in Florida juvenile cohort Statistic
In a Florida juvenile justice cohort, physical neglect was independently associated with increased odds of a violent felony arrest (OR = 1.51, p = .022) when modeling individual trauma items.
1.5 odds ratio
Bedford Hills female prisoners childhood abuse prevalence Statistic
A 1999 study of female prisoners at Bedford Hills Correctional facility in New York found over 80% had a childhood history of physical and sexual abuse, and more than 90% had experienced physical or sexual assault during their lifetime.
80%
92% of justice-involved youth reported at least one trauma type (Abram et al.) Statistic
Dierkhising et al. cites Abram and colleagues for the finding that 92% of justice-involved youth reported exposure to at least one type of trauma, with exposure to multiple traumas being the norm.
92%
Australian incarcerated women: 94% reported at least one childhood adversity Statistic
In Fischer et al. (Criminal Justice and Behavior), among 153 incarcerated women in Australia who completed the ACE questionnaire, 94% (n=144) reported experiencing at least one childhood adversity.
94%
Georgia DPH/Georgia Essentials for Childhood headline: 3 in 5 Georgians reported at least one ACE Finding
A Georgia Department of Public Health / Georgia Essentials for Childhood report headlines that 3 in 5 Georgians reported at least one ACE.
Odds ratio for depression treatment from childhood sexual trauma Statistic
Among incarcerated men, childhood sexual trauma before age 18 was associated with an odds ratio of 2.06 for depression treatment.
2.1 odds ratio
21% of Welsh prisoners reported 2-3 ACEs Statistic
In the Welsh Prisoner ACE Survey, 21% of prisoners reported 2-3 ACEs.
21%
Combined Georgia BRFSS 2016-2023: 20.2% unadjusted, 18.9% adjusted report 4+ ACEs Statistic
Combining the Georgia BRFSS ACE module surveys from 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2023, the adjusted percentage of Georgia respondents reporting 4 or more ACEs was 18.9% (95% CI 18.3-19.5), with an unadjusted percentage of 20.2% (95% CI 19.6-20.9). The most reported ACEs were parents insulting/swearing at the respondent (32.6%) and divorced parents (32.5%).
20.2% vs. 18.9 adjusted percent
BJS: Parent/guardian alcohol abuse among jail inmates Statistic
BJS Profile of Jail Inmates Table 15 shows 19.9% in 2002 vs 23.1% in 1996 specified alcohol as substance abused by parent/guardian.
19.9% vs. 23.1 1996 rate
State prisoners reporting prior physical or sexual abuse Statistic
In surveys completed by BJS, 18.7% of State prison inmates reported ever having been physically or sexually abused before admission (16.1% of men, 57.2% of women), and separately, 14.4% of male and 36.7% of female State prison inmates reported abuse before age 18.
18.7%
Each additional childhood trauma type increases violent felony arrest likelihood by 11% Statistic
In a longitudinal study of Florida juvenile justice-involved youth, each additional type of childhood trauma was associated with an 11% increase in the likelihood of a subsequent violent felony arrest.
11%
Oklahoma women prisoners ACE distribution Statistic
In a sample of 355 Oklahoma women prisoners, Melissa Jones' dissertation found 38.0% had 4 or fewer cumulative ACEs (Low ACEs) and 62.0% had 5 or more cumulative ACEs (High ACEs).
62% vs. 38 percent with 4 or fewer ACEs
Source
46% of Welsh prisoners reported 4 or more ACEs Statistic
In the Prisoner ACE Survey of adults in a Welsh prison, 16% reported 0 ACEs, 18% reported 1 ACE, 21% reported 2-3 ACEs, and 46% reported 4 or more ACEs, described as 'over 8 in 10 prisoners reported at least 1 ACE, and nearly half had 4 or more ACEs.'
46%
Sexual abuse and documented abuse histories among girls in out-of-home placements Statistic
The NCTSN fact sheet states that in a sample of girls court-mandated to out-of-home placements, 76% reported experiencing sexual abuse and 93% had documented histories of physical or sexual abuse (citing Smith et al. 2006).
76% vs. 93 % with documented histories of physical or sexual abuse
40% appears next to 0 ACEs label in Georgia ACE-count chart Statistic
In this Georgia report's ACE-count chart (respondents reporting ACEs), "40%" appears positioned next to the "0 ACEs" label.
40%
Trauma prevalence among juvenile detainees Statistic
Abram et al. found that 92.5% of juvenile detainees had experienced 1 or more traumas.
92.5%
Welsh prisoners with 4+ ACEs 4x more likely to have served in a YOI Finding
Prisoners with 4 or more ACEs were 4 times more likely to have ever served a sentence in a young offender institution (YOI) than those with no ACEs.
GDC PREA SOP 208.06 requires sexual victim/aggressor screening within 24 hours and 30 days Policy
GDC's PREA policy (SOP 208.06) requires that all offenders be assessed during intake screening and upon transfer for risk of being sexually abused by or sexually abusive toward other offenders, using a Sexual Victim/Sexual Aggressor Classification Screening Instrument within 24 hours of arrival and again within 30 days of arrival, conducted by counseling staff in SCRIBE.
1991 BJS survey: physical and sexual abuse among state prisoners Statistic
In BJS's 1991 Survey of State Prison Inmates, 11.3% of all State prison inmates reported being physically abused (33.5% of females, 10.0% of males), and 6.8% reported being sexually abused (33.9% of females, 5.3% of males).
11.3% vs. 6.8 percent (sexual abuse)
Florida study of 64,000 adjudicated juvenile offenders links ACEs to chronic offending Finding
In a study of 64,000 adjudicated juvenile offenders in Florida, increased exposure to multiple Adverse Childhood Experiences distinguished early-onset and chronic offending from other patterns of offending, net of several controls across demographic, individual risk, familial risk, and personal history domains.
Oklahoma women in custody average ACEs Statistic
A study of women under correctional custody in Oklahoma (N=544) found participants reported an average of 4.94 childhood adversities (SD 2.94).
4.9 average ACEs
Nearly 100% of incarcerated people have experienced potentially traumatic events (ISTSS) Finding
The ISTSS fact sheet 'Incarceration and Traumatic Stress' states that because so many global studies have shown that nearly 100% of people who are incarcerated have experienced potentially traumatic events, clinicians working in carceral settings can safely assume their clients have experienced trauma.
Depression treatment rates by childhood sexual trauma among incarcerated men Statistic
Among incarcerated men, depression treatment in prison was 32.1% among those with childhood (minor, age under 18) sexual trauma, compared with 13.7% among those with no reported trauma.
32.1% vs. 13.7 % depression treatment among those with no reported trauma
8% appears adjacent to 3 ACEs label in Georgia ACE-count chart Statistic
In this Georgia report's ACE-count chart (respondents reporting ACEs), the label "3 ACEs" appears directly adjacent to "8%" in the extracted text.
8%
PTSD prevalence among juvenile detainees Statistic
In Abram et al.'s study, 11.2% of the juvenile detainee sample met criteria for PTSD in the past year.
11.2%
No trauma match in 2013 Georgia Juvenile Justice Reforms document Data gap
A search of the 2013 Juvenile Justice Reforms in Georgia document for 'trauma', 'traumatic', and 'trauma-informed' returned no match.
CDC MMWR: 60.9% of adults in 25-state study had at least one ACE; 15.6% had 4+ Statistic
A CDC MMWR study using BRFSS data from 25 states (2015-2017) found that 60.9% of adults in the study population experienced at least one type of adverse childhood experience, and 15.6% experienced four or more types.
60.9% vs. 15.6 percent with 4+ ACEs
Northwestern Juvenile Project: Trauma exposure prevalence Statistic
92.5% of youth experienced at least one trauma, 84% experienced more than one trauma, and 56.8% were exposed to trauma six or more times.
92.5% vs. 84 more than one trauma
1991 BJS survey: ever abused before incarceration Statistic
In BJS's 1991 Survey of State Prison Inmates, 13.9% of all State prison inmates reported ever being physically or sexually abused before their current incarceration, compared with 43.2% of female and 12.2% of male inmates.
13.9%
Two ACEs increase SVC offender likelihood by 70% Statistic
In a study of juvenile offenders, children with two ACEs were 70% more likely to be SVC offenders; four ACEs increased a child's SVC risk by 140%.
70%
Reavis et al. male offenders 4+ ACEs vs normative sample Statistic
In Reavis et al., among 151 male offenders who completed the ACE Questionnaire, 48.3% scored 4 or more ACEs, compared with 12.5% in the CDC/Felitti male normative sample (N=7,970).
48.3% vs. 12.5 percent in normative sample
Lifetime PTSD 17.8% for incarcerated men, 40.4% for women vs 3.9% general population Statistic
An ISTSS fact sheet states that in a meta-analysis of 56 samples comprising 21,099 incarcerated people across 20 countries, lifetime PTSD estimates were 17.8% for men and 40.4% for women, substantially higher than the 3.9% lifetime PTSD prevalence estimated for the general population internationally.
17.8% vs. 40.4 women lifetime PTSD
Cross-sectional design limitation in incarcerated men trauma study Methodology note
A study of incarcerated men states that its data on trauma and psychopathology are based on a cross-sectional design and that findings indicate associations only, not causal relationships.
40% of male and 35% of female GDC inmates assessed high-risk/high-need due to past trauma Statistic
GDC's Inmate Services Impact Report for Fiscal Year 2019 reported that 40% of male inmates and 35% of female inmates had been assessed as high-risk and high-need due to past trauma and in need of trauma related programming, under a Trauma Informed Program using Seeking Safety.
40% vs. 35 female inmates
Universal trauma exposure among incarcerated men Finding
Wolff, Huening, Shi & Frueh concluded that trauma was a universal experience among incarcerated men in their study, with virtually all participants reporting at least one lifetime traumatic event that was directly violent and involved injury or shock.
No ACE match in Georgia DJJ mental health programming page Data gap
A search of the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice Mental Health Programming page for 'adverse childhood experiences', 'ACE score', and 'percent of youth' returned no match.
MMWR 2015-2017 ACE study sample sizes by ACE score (total 144,017) Statistic
In the MMWR BRFSS ACE study (25 states, 2015-2017), the unweighted sample by ACE score was 63,365 adults reporting 0 ACEs (39.0%), 33,160 reporting 1 ACE (23.4%), 29,142 reporting 2-3 ACEs (21.9%), and 18,350 reporting 4 or more ACEs (15.6%), totaling 144,017.
144,017 adults
Northwestern Juvenile Project: Study design Methodology note
Longitudinal study of 1,829 youth ages 10-18 arrested and detained between November 20, 1995, and June 14, 1998, at Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center.
1991 BJS survey: abuse before age 18 Statistic
In BJS's 1991 Survey of State Prison Inmates, 11.9% of all State prison inmates reported abuse before age 18 (31.7% of females, 10.7% of males).
11.9%
Each ACE increases SVC offender risk by more than 35% Statistic
Among juvenile offenders in Florida, each ACE a child experienced increased the risk of being a serious, violent, and chronic offender by more than 35%, even when controlling for other known risk factors for criminal behavior.
35%
Reavis et al. male offenders 0 ACEs vs normative sample Statistic
In Reavis et al., among 151 male offenders who completed the ACE Questionnaire, 9.3% scored 0 ACEs, compared with 38.0% scoring 0 in the CDC/Felitti male normative sample (N=7,970).
9.3% vs. 38 percent in normative sample
Childhood sexual abuse associated with 2.68 pooled odds ratio for suicide attempts in prisoners Statistic
A meta-analytic review found sexual abuse in childhood was associated with suicide attempts in prisoners with a pooled odds ratio of 2.68 (95% CI 1.86-3.86, k=16 studies, N=9835).
2.7 pooled odds ratio
Pessoa & Almeida review: 29,244 inmates across studies Statistic
Pessoa and Almeida's systematic review on ACEs and mental health in offenders found that the included studies comprised a total of 29,244 inmates.
29,244 inmates
GDC SOP 507.04.19 requires sexual abuse history screening at intake Policy
GDC's SOP 507.04.19 "Receiving Screening" requires screening to include a history of sexual abuse, indicating whether there is a history of previous sexual victimization and whether it occurred in an institution or community setting.
Norwegian women prisoners ACE prevalence Statistic
In a study of 141 women inmates in Norway, 17% reported having experienced no ACEs, while 34% reported having experienced more than five ACEs.
34%
No ACE threshold match in Canadian federal offenders report Data gap
A search of 'The adverse childhood experiences of Canadian federal offenders' report for 'four or more', 'all four categories', 'two or more ACEs', and 'multiple ACE categories' returned no match.
Georgia added ACE questions to BRFSS in 2016 Methodology note
The MMWR Vital Signs ACE report lists Georgia among the states that added adverse childhood experience questions to BRFSS in 2016 (alongside Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana, Michigan, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Utah).
BJS: Parental substance abuse by mental health status (Federal prisoners) Statistic
33% of Federal prisoners with mental health problem vs 20% without reported parent/guardian abused alcohol/drugs while growing up.
33% vs. 20 without mental health problem
1991 BJS survey: abuse after age 18 Statistic
In BJS's 1991 Survey of State Prison Inmates, 4.2% of all State prison inmates reported abuse after age 18 (24.5% of females, 3.0% of males).
4.2%
Fox et al. Florida DJJ cohort size and composition Statistic
Fox et al.'s Florida DJJ cohort consists of 22,575 unique offenders, of which 10,714 are SVC (serious, violent, chronic) offenders and 11,861 are O&D (one-and-done) offenders.
22,575 people
Reavis et al. sample description Methodology note
Reavis et al.'s sample consisted of subjects from 4 different offender groups (N = 151) referred for treatment at an outpatient clinic in San Diego, CA, subsequent to conviction in criminal court, who completed the ACE Questionnaire.
Combined childhood maltreatment associated with 3.09 pooled odds ratio for suicide attempts in prisoners Statistic
A meta-analytic review found that combined/multiple forms of childhood maltreatment were associated with suicide attempts in prisoners with a pooled odds ratio of 3.09 (95% CI 2.14-4.45, k=13 studies, N=10219).
3.1 pooled odds ratio
More than half of offenders in Pessoa & Almeida review reported at least one ACE Finding
Pessoa and Almeida's systematic review found that more than half of study participants reported experiencing at least one ACE.
GDC SOP 507.04.19 requires referral to Medical/Mental Health within 14 days for sexual abuse trauma Policy
GDC SOP 507.04.19 (Receiving Screening) requires the receiving health screening to include a history of sexual abuse, indicating whether there is a history of previous sexual victimization and whether it occurred in an institution or community setting, with referral to Medical or Mental Health within fourteen days of intake if there is an indication of trauma related to sexual abuse.
Average number of trauma types among justice-involved youth Statistic
In Dierkhising et al.'s study of justice-involved youth in the NCTSN Core Data Set, the average number of different trauma types experienced among adolescents in the sample is 4.9.
4.9 trauma types
No ACE match in DOJ Women's Pathways to Jail Data gap
A search of the U.S. Department of Justice Women's Pathways to Jail publication for 'four or more ACEs', 'ACE score', 'adverse childhood experiences', and 'cumulative number of childhood' returned no match.
CDC MMWR 2011-2020: 63.9% of U.S. adults had at least one ACE; 17.3% had 4+ Statistic
A CDC MMWR study of BRFSS data (2011-2020) found that nearly two thirds of U.S. adults (63.9%) experienced one or more ACE: 23.1% reported one; 23.5% reported two to three; and 17.3% reported four or more ACEs.
63.9% vs. 17.3 percent with 4+ ACEs
BJS: Parental substance abuse by mental health status (Jail inmates) Statistic
37% of jail inmates with mental health problem vs 19% without reported parent abused alcohol/drugs while growing up.
37% vs. 19 without mental health problem
SVC offenders with 4+ ACEs double the proportion of O&D offenders Statistic
In Fox et al.'s Florida DJJ study, SVC (serious, violent, chronic) offenders with 4 or more ACEs were more than double the proportion of O&D offenders (33% vs. 14%).
33% vs. 14 O&D offenders with 4+ ACEs
Reavis et al. average ACE categories Statistic
In Reavis et al.'s Permanente Journal study, on average the offender sample reported 3.73 (standard deviation, 2.69) categories of ACE, with a modal value of 3.
3.7 average ACE categories
Physical abuse, emotional abuse, emotional neglect, physical neglect pooled odds ratios for suicide attempts Statistic
A meta-analytic review found physical abuse was associated with suicide attempts in prisoners with a pooled odds ratio of 2.16 (95% CI 1.60-2.91, k=11 studies, N=5572), emotional abuse with a pooled odds ratio of 2.70 (95% CI 1.92-3.79, k=9 studies, N=5258), emotional neglect with a pooled odds ratio of 2.29 (95% CI 1.69-3.10, k=7 studies, N=3123), and physical neglect with a pooled odds ratio of 1.57 (95% CI 1.27-1.94, k=7 studies, N=3049).
2.2 pooled odds ratio vs. 1.6 physical neglect odds ratio
U.S. adult ACE prevalence, 2019-2020 modeled estimates Statistic
In 2019-2020, an estimated 62.8% of U.S. adults had past exposure to one or more ACEs (range 54.9% in Connecticut to 72.5% in Maine), including 22.4% exposed to four or more ACEs (range 11.9% in Connecticut to 32.8% in Nevada), based on modeled BRFSS estimates.
62.8% vs. 22.4 % of U.S. adults exposed to 4+ ACEs
39% of DJJ secure facility youth mental health diagnoses are Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders Statistic
In Georgia DJJ's FY2024 Annual Report, 39% of youth's mental health diagnoses in RYDCs and YDCs (secure facilities) were Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders.
39%
Source
Early childhood trauma onset among justice-involved youth Statistic
In Dierkhising et al.'s study, 62.14% of justice-involved youth experienced trauma in the first 5 years of life.
62.1%
No abuse-term match in BJS mspi16 Data gap
A search of the U.S. Department of Justice mspi16 publication for 'abuse', 'abused', 'sexual abuse', and 'physical abuse' returned no match.
MMWR 2011-2020 ACE analysis excluded 79,797 for missing data, retained 264,882 Methodology note
In the MMWR BRFSS ACE analysis (2011-2020), participants with missing data for any type of ACE were excluded (79,797), leaving 264,882 participants (72.5% of total).
BJS: Family incarceration by mental health status Statistic
52% of prison and jail inmates with mental health problem reported family member incarcerated, vs 41% State inmates and 36% jail inmates without mental health problem.
52% vs. 41 State inmates without mental health problem
Family incarceration among female vs male state prisoners Statistic
BJS's Women in Prison report found that women in prison were more likely than men to have had at least one member of their immediate family who had been incarcerated: 47% of female inmates and 37% of male inmates.
47% vs. 37 percent (men)
Fewer than 70% of O&D offenders experienced 1+ ACEs Statistic
In Fox et al.'s Florida DJJ study, fewer than 70% of the O&D offenders experienced 1 or more ACEs.
70%
Browne, Miller, Maguin New York female prisoners violence prevalence Statistic
Bloom, Owen & Covington's NIC report states that Browne, Miller, and Maguin found 70 percent of incarcerated women interviewed in a New York maximum security prison reported physical violence, and nearly 60 percent reported sexual abuse.
70%
Urban Institute: 61% general population vs 97% of people in prison have at least one ACE Statistic
The Urban Institute's Urban Wire article states that research shows around 61 percent of the general population has had at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE), and that number is closer to 97 percent for people in prison, with only the 61 percent figure linked to a citation (CDC) and no citation link attached to the 97 percent prison figure.
97% vs. 61 general population with at least one ACE
Norwegian women prisoners: 17% no ACEs, 34% more than five ACEs Statistic
In Friestad, Rustad & Kjelsberg (International Journal of Social Psychiatry), among women inmates interviewed in Norway, 17% reported experiencing none of the assessed ACEs, while 34% reported more than five ACEs.
34% vs. 17 % reporting no ACEs
DJJ FY2024 diagnosis table: Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders 39% Statistic
Georgia DJJ's FY2024 Annual Report, in a diagnosis table from its Office of Behavioral Health Services for Secure Facilities, lists 'Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders' at 39%.
39%
Source
Mean ACE score among incarcerated men in Portugal Statistic
In a sample of 283 incarcerated men from seven prisons in Northern Portugal, the mean total ACEs score was 2.65 (SD = 2.50).
2.7 mean ACE score
No abuse-term match in BJS ppi16 (first search) Data gap
A search of the U.S. Department of Justice ppi16 publication for 'physically or sexually abused', 'sexual abuse', 'abused before', and 'prior abuse' returned no match.
Georgia 2020 BRFSS ACE module: response rate 39.1%, n=6,595, individual ACE prevalences Statistic
Georgia fielded the BRFSS ACE module in 2020 with a survey response rate of 39.1% and total unweighted sample of 6,595. Weighted prevalences by ACE category included emotional abuse 32.3%, physical abuse 22.2%, sexual abuse 13.2%, witnessed intimate partner violence 16.7%, household substance use 24.9%, and household mental illness 15.1%.
6,595 respondents vs. 39.1 survey response rate (percent)
BJS: Abuse history by mental health status (State prisoners) Statistic
27% of State prisoners with mental health problem vs 10% without reported physical or sexual abuse in past.
27% vs. 10 without mental health problem
Female state prisoners who lived in foster/institutional care Statistic
BJS's Women in Prison report found that about 17% of female State prison inmates had lived in a foster home, agency, or other institution at some time while they were growing up.
17%
More than 90% of SVC offenders experienced at least one traumatic event Statistic
In Fox et al.'s Florida DJJ study, SVC offenders were more than triple the rate of the O&Ds (10% vs. 3%), and more than 90% of SVC offenders experienced at least one traumatic event in childhood.
90%
Male and female offender childhood abuse prevalence ranges Statistic
Bloom, Owen & Covington's NIC report states that between 7 and 16 percent of male offenders and between 40 and 57 percent of female offenders reported being physically or sexually abused before age 18.
7% vs. 57 percent upper bound female
Original ACE Study: 52% experienced one or more ACE categories, 6.2% four or more Statistic
The original CDC-Kaiser Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study found that more than half of respondents (52%) experienced one or more categories of adverse childhood exposure, and 6.2% reported four or more exposures.
52% vs. 6.2 four or more ACEs
Yannon et al. meta-analysis scope: ACEs and recidivism Finding
A meta-analysis by Yannon et al. quantitatively synthesizes existing literature to investigate the relationship between aggregations of ACEs and recidivism among court-involved youth and adults.
DJJ screens youth within two hours of admission for trauma and suicide risk Policy
Georgia DJJ's mental health programming page states that within two hours of admission to a DJJ facility, each youth is screened for mental health issues, traumatic experiences, substance use, and suicide/self-harm risk.
Prevalence of four or more ACEs among incarcerated men in Portugal Statistic
In the Portuguese sample of 283 incarcerated men, 32.9% (n=93) reported four or more ACEs.
32.9%
No abuse-term match in BJS ppi16 (second search) Data gap
A second search of the U.S. Department of Justice ppi16 publication for 'abused', 'physically or sexually abused', 'sexual abuse', and 'prior abuse' returned no match.
Georgia 2020 BRFSS ACE score distribution: 16.7% report 4+ ACEs Statistic
Among Georgia adults surveyed on BRFSS (unweighted n=6,595), the weighted ACE score distribution was 35.3% with 0 ACEs, 24.6% with 1 ACE, 23.4% with 2-3 ACEs, and 16.7% with 4 or more ACEs.
16.7% vs. 35.3 percent with 0 ACEs
BJS: Abuse history by mental health status (Jail inmates) Statistic
24% of jail inmates with mental health problem vs 8% without reported physical or sexual abuse in past.
24% vs. 8 without mental health problem
Foster/institutional care by race among female state prisoners Statistic
BJS's Women in Prison report found that 21.1% of white female inmates, 14.1% of black female inmates, and 14.4% of Hispanic female inmates reported having ever lived in a foster home, agency, or institution while growing up.
21.1% vs. 14.1 percent (black women)
Florida juvenile offenders 13 times less likely to report zero ACEs than Kaiser population Statistic
In a study of Florida juvenile offenders, juvenile offenders were 13 times less likely to report zero ACEs (2.8% compared to 36%) and four times more likely to report four or more ACEs (50% compared to 13%) than Felitti and Anda's Kaiser Permanente-insured population used in the original ACE study.
2.8% vs. 36 Kaiser Permanente population with zero ACEs
Browne et al. New York female prisoners lifetime attack prevalence Statistic
In Browne et al.'s examination of women incarcerated in New York prisons, a substantial majority reported sexual molestation or severe violence in childhood and adolescence, and only 6 percent of the 150 respondents did not report at least one physical or sexual attack during their lifetime.
6%
ACE Study questionnaire response rate 70.5% (9,508 of 13,494) Methodology note
The original ACE Study questionnaire was mailed to 13,494 adults who had completed a standardized medical evaluation at a large HMO, and 9,508 (70.5%) responded.
Tentative small-magnitude link between childhood abuse and reoffending Finding
A systematic review of childhood physical and sexual abuse as a predictor of reoffending found a tentative suggestion that childhood physical and sexual abuse are related to increases in the odds of reoffending, although of a small magnitude.
Source
Approximately 50% of DJJ youth referred for further assessment Statistic
DJJ's own website states that within two hours of admission to a DJJ facility, each youth is screened for mental health issues, traumatic experiences, substance use, and suicide/self-harm risk, and that approximately 50% of youth are referred for further assessment.
50%
ACEs predicting alcohol use in justice-involved youth Statistic
Among first-time justice-involved youth, each additional ACE resulted in a 1.21 increased relative risk of alcohol use at 12-month follow-up.
1.2 relative risk
DJJ mental health assessments use MAYSI-2, CAFAS, GAIN-SS Policy
Georgia DJJ's presentation states that comprehensive mental health assessments for youth in DJJ secure facilities use instruments including the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument, Second Version (MAYSI-2), the Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale (CAFAS), and the Global Appraisal of Individual Needs Short Screener (GAIN-SS).
James and Glaze: Abuse before admission by mental health status Statistic
27.0% of State prisoners with mental health problem vs 10.5% without reported ever being physically or sexually abused before admission.
27% vs. 10.5 without mental health problem
Trauma history rates among women inmates as high as 90% Finding
An NIC-funded report on women's correctional facilities states that some studies note rates of trauma histories among women inmates as high as 90%.
90% of US juvenile offenders experience traumatic event in childhood Statistic
Fox et al. cite research showing 90% of juvenile offenders in the United States experience some sort of traumatic event in childhood, and up to 30% of justice-involved American youth meet the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder due to childhood trauma.
90%
Owen and Bloom California female prisoners abuse prevalence Statistic
Bloom, Owen & Covington's NIC report states that Owen and Bloom found 80 percent of their sample of incarcerated women in California had been physically and/or sexually abused prior to incarceration.
80%
ACE Study assessed seven categories of adverse childhood experiences Methodology note
The ACE Study assessed seven categories of adverse childhood experiences: psychological, physical, or sexual abuse, and household dysfunction.
Benda (2005) odds ratios for childhood abuse and reoffending by sex Statistic
In a systematic review of childhood abuse and adult reoffending, one included study (Benda 2005) found odds ratios for childhood physical abuse and reoffending of 1.56 for women and 1.31 for men, and for childhood sexual abuse and reoffending of 1.77 for women and 1.37 for men.
1.6 odds ratio vs. 1.3 odds ratio for childhood physical abuse and reoffending, men
Source
DJJ uses TARGET trauma treatment model in secure facilities Policy
DJJ's website describes TARGET (Trauma Affect Regulation: Guide for Education & Treatment) as a group and individual treatment model used in DJJ secure facilities for youth who have experienced multiple traumatic events.
Odds ratio for substance use disorder by high adversity typology Statistic
In a study of adversity typologies among incarcerated people in the US, members of the Class 4 (high adversity exposure) typology had an odds ratio of 2.18 for substance use disorder compared with the low-adversity reference group.
2.2 odds ratio
DJJ assesses trauma history with acute/PTSD symptoms Policy
Georgia DJJ's presentation on mental health services describes 'trauma history with symptoms of acute- or post-traumatic stress disorder' as one of the clinical areas assessed in secure facilities.
James and Glaze: Foster care history by mental health status Statistic
18.5% of State prisoners with mental health problem vs 9.5% without reported ever living in foster home, agency, or institution while growing up.
18.5% vs. 9.5 without mental health problem
NIC report endnote attribution for trauma-history figure Methodology note
An endnote in the NIC-funded women's correctional facilities report attributes a trauma-history figure to Wright et al. 2012 and Bloom, Owen & Covington 2005.
Incarcerated household member most prevalent ACE for SVC and O&D offenders Statistic
Fox et al. found that having an incarcerated household member was the most prevalent single ACE item for both groups: 80.0% of serious/violent/chronic (SVC) juvenile offenders had an incarcerated household member, compared with 49.7% of other/delinquent (O&D) offenders.
80% vs. 49.7 O&D offenders with incarcerated household member
Youth in juvenile justice system trauma prevalence Statistic
Justice Policy Institute's report 'Healing Invisible Wounds' states that between 75 and 93 percent of youth entering the juvenile justice system annually in the US are estimated to have experienced some degree of trauma, compared to up to 34 percent of children in the United States experiencing at least one traumatic event.
75% vs. 93 percent upper bound
Source
ACE Study distribution: 49.5% zero, 24.9% one, 12.5% two, 6.9% three, 6.2% four categories Statistic
In the original Felitti et al. CDC-Kaiser ACE Study (Table 3, 'All participants', N=8,056), 49.5% had 0 categories of childhood exposure, 24.9% had 1, 12.5% had 2, 6.9% had 3, and 6.2% had 4 categories of adverse childhood exposure.
49.5%
Majority of studies found only small-magnitude trauma-reoffending associations Finding
In the Dalsklev et al. systematic review of studies predicting reoffending, the majority (n=9) of included studies found only associations of small magnitude between childhood trauma and reoffending, regardless of statistical significance.
Source
O.C.G.A. § 15-11-130.1 requires referral of child trafficking victims to trauma-informed services Legal fact
O.C.G.A. § 15-11-130.1 requires that a child suspected of being a victim of sexual exploitation or trafficking be referred to a certified victim assistance organization that provides comprehensive trauma-informed services.
Odds ratio for mental health disorder by high adversity typology Statistic
In the same study, members of the Class 4 (high adversity exposure) typology had an odds ratio of 3.57 for mental health disorder compared with the low-adversity reference group.
3.6 odds ratio
DJJ FY2012: 17% of youth in ongoing MH services had Anxiety and Trauma diagnosis; 12% abuse/neglect victim Statistic
Georgia DJJ's presentation reports that among youth receiving ongoing mental health services in FY-2012, 17% had an 'Anxiety and Trauma' diagnostic characteristic and 12% had 'Abuse or Neglect - Victim' as a diagnostic characteristic.
17% vs. 12 percent abuse/neglect victim
James and Glaze: Family incarceration by mental health status Statistic
51.7% of State prisoners with mental health problem vs 41.3% without reported family member ever incarcerated.
51.7% vs. 41.3 without mental health problem
Childhood traumatic event distribution in FOTEP women Statistic
In Messina & Grella, a study in the American Journal of Public Health on childhood trauma and women's health outcomes in a California prison population, among women in the Female Offender Treatment and Employment Program (FOTEP) evaluation, 15.7% reported no childhood traumatic events (out of 8 types assessed), while more than 20% reported 5 or more, with 7 being the maximum reported.
15.7%
Fox et al. analyzed ACE data on 22,575 Florida DJJ youth Statistic
Fox et al. analyzed ACE and other risk-factor data on 22,575 delinquent youth referred to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.
22,575 people
BRFSS 25-state ACE prevalence Statistic
60.9% of adults in a multi-state BRFSS study population experienced at least one type of adverse childhood experience, and 15.6% experienced four or more types.
60.9% vs. 15.6 percent with 4+ ACEs
Trauma prevalence as high as 98% among incarcerated women, 62.4-87% among men (CSG Justice Center) Statistic
The Council of State Governments Justice Center report states that prevalence rates of trauma among incarcerated women have been shown to be as high as 98 percent, and rates of trauma exposure among incarcerated men are between 62.4 and 87 percent.
98% vs. 62.4 lower bound for men
Tikkanen et al. (2010): childhood physical abuse linked to 2.6-5.3x violent reoffending Statistic
In a systematic review of childhood abuse and reoffending, one included study (Tikkanen et al., 2010) found that childhood physical abuse was related to an increase of 2.6 to 5.3 times in the rates of violent reoffending, depending on the genotype controlled for.
2.6x times increase (lower bound) vs. 5.3 times increase (upper bound)
Source
O.C.G.A. § 15-1-23 directs CJCC to establish trauma-informed treatment grant program Legal fact
O.C.G.A. § 15-1-23 directs Georgia's Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, subject to appropriations, to establish a grant program for accountability courts serving the mental health and co-occurring substance use disorder population to facilitate implementation of trauma-informed treatment.
Odds ratio for serious mental illness by high adversity typology Statistic
In the same study, members of the Class 4 (high adversity exposure) typology had an odds ratio of 4.03 for serious mental illness compared with the low-adversity reference group.
4.0 odds ratio
Athens-Clarke County Jail reentry program uses 10-question ACE Quiz Case detail
An Atlanta Journal-Constitution article reports that inmates in a reentry program at the Athens-Clarke County Jail take an 'Adverse Childhood Experiences Quiz' in the second week, ten questions about trauma before age 18 including abuse, neglect, and living with addiction or violence.
James and Glaze: Parental substance abuse by mental health status Statistic
39.3% of State prisoners with mental health problem vs 25.1% without reported parents/guardians abused alcohol or drugs.
39.3% vs. 25.1 without mental health problem
Combined U.S./Wales data: ACE prevalence among incarcerated adults Finding
California Surgeon General's justice sector brief states that combined data from the United States and Wales suggest that more than 90% of incarcerated adults have experienced at least one ACE and almost 50% have experienced four or more.
85% of women in correctional settings have early physical/sexual abuse experience Statistic
An Indiana state document adapted from SAMHSA and Policy Research Associates trauma-informed-justice materials states it is estimated that 85 percent of women in correctional settings have an early experience of physical and/or sexual abuse.
85%
Source
BRFSS 2011-2020 ACE prevalence distribution Statistic
Among U.S. adults surveyed by BRFSS, 63.9% experienced one or more ACE: 23.1% reported one; 23.5% reported two to three; and 17.3% reported four or more ACEs.
63.9%
CSG Justice Center report cites Green et al. 2005 and Wolff et al. 2014 for trauma prevalence Methodology note
The Council of State Governments Justice Center report's footnotes identify Bonnie L. Green et al.'s 'Trauma Exposure, Mental Health Functioning, and Program Needs of Women in Jail,' Crime & Delinquency 51, no. 1 (2005), as endnote 2, and Nancy Wolff et al.'s 'Trauma Exposure and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Incarcerated Men,' J Urban Health 91 no. 4 (2014), as endnote 3.
Wolff & Caravaca Sánchez sample: 943 incarcerated men Statistic
A study by Wolff and Caravaca Sánchez examined psychological distress, childhood adversity, substance use, social support and resilience in a correctional sample of 943 men.
943 men
GDC SOP 508.14 requires mental health screening at intake including history of abuse Policy
GDC's "Mental Health Reception Screen" policy requires that during intake all offenders be interviewed and screened for placement on the mental health caseload or further evaluation based on factors including history of abuse as a victim.
Total inmates in ACE systematic review Statistic
Pessoa & Almeida's systematic review on ACEs and mental health in offenders included studies that comprised a total of 29,244 inmates.
29,244 inmates
America's Health Rankings: Georgia 15.8% of children 0-17 with 2+ ACEs Statistic
America's Health Rankings reports a Georgia value of 15.8% for the percentage of children ages 0-17 who have ever experienced two or more adverse childhood experiences.
15.8%
James and Glaze: Living arrangement by mental health status Statistic
43.8% of State prisoners with mental health problem vs 40.8% without lived most of time with one parent while growing up.
43.8% vs. 40.8 without mental health problem
Childhood trauma and odds of adult mental health treatment Statistic
Among incarcerated women in the Messina & Grella study, exposure to 7 childhood traumatic events (versus none) was associated with a 980% increase in the odds of having received mental health treatment as an adult.
980%
50-90% of adults and children exposed to traumatic event Statistic
The Indiana trauma-informed-care training document states that fifty to ninety percent of all adults and children are exposed to a psychologically traumatic event such as a life-threatening assault or accident.
50% vs. 90 upper bound of exposure range
Source
BRFSS ACE module structure Methodology note
The BRFSS optional ACEs module includes 11 questions to determine exposure to eight types of ACEs: physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, witnessing intimate partner violence, household substance abuse, household mental illness, parental separation or divorce, and incarcerated household member.
ACEs and juvenile recidivism meta-analysis: 4.4% increase in odds per ACE Statistic
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 14 studies (26 effect sizes) found that a higher number of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) was associated with a 4.4% increase in the odds of juvenile recidivism (OR = 1.044; 95% CI 1.029-1.059, p < .001).
4.4%
80.1% of incarcerated men screening sample reported any childhood trauma Statistic
In Wolff et al.'s study of incarcerated men, 80.1% of the total screening sample (N=592) reported any childhood trauma, defined as trauma experienced prior to age 18.
80.1%
GDC SOP 508.14 intake screening factors include suicidal ideation, attempts, abuse history Policy
GDC's Mental Health Reception Screen SOP requires that during intake, all offenders be interviewed and screened for placement on the mental health caseload based on factors including suicidal ideation, recent suicide attempts, and history of abuse as a victim.
Pooled prevalence of cumulative ACEs among youth offenders Statistic
In Astridge, Li, McDermott & Longhitano's systematic review and meta-analysis, the pooled prevalence of cumulative ACEs among youth offenders was 39.4% (95% CI [0.227, 0.590]).
39.4%
Georgia House Resolution declares youth violence a public health epidemic, supports trauma-informed education Legal fact
A Georgia House Resolution (14 LC 105 0030) resolved that the House of Representatives declares youth violence to be a public health epidemic and supports the establishment of statewide trauma-informed education to enable educators and communities to reduce youth violence.
Source
Childhood trauma and alcohol problems in incarcerated women Statistic
In the Messina & Grella study of incarcerated women, for each one-unit increase in childhood traumatic events, the odds of having an alcohol problem increased, with 21% of women reporting no childhood traumatic events reporting alcohol problems compared with 44% of women who had more than 5 childhood traumatic events.
21% vs. 44 percent (>5 events)
Kentucky jail sample of incarcerated women with OUD Statistic
Incarcerated women (N=500) were randomly selected from eight Kentucky jails, screened for opioid use disorder (OUD), and interviewed by research staff.
500 people
Hughes et al. meta-analysis exclusion of prison populations Methodology note
Hughes et al.'s Lancet Public Health systematic review and meta-analysis of multiple adverse childhood experiences excluded studies based on high-risk populations such as the homeless or those in prison because of often few individuals with low ACE exposure in such populations.
ACEs-recidivism meta-analysis heterogeneity: I-squared 84.79%, 70% between-study Methodology note
A meta-analysis of studies on ACEs and juvenile recidivism found heterogeneity across the pooled effect sizes, with approximately 70.0% of heterogeneity attributable to differences between studies and a total I-squared of 84.79%.
98.9% of incarcerated men screening sample reported any lifetime violent/injury/shocking trauma Statistic
In Wolff et al.'s study, 98.9% of the total screening sample of incarcerated men (N=592) reported any lifetime trauma that was violent, involved injury, or was a shocking event.
98.9%
GDC SOP 508.14 requires Mental Health Evaluation within 14 days for abuse history or head trauma Policy
GDC's Mental Health Reception Screen SOP requires a Mental Health Evaluation within fourteen calendar days if there is reason to believe the offender needs mental health services because of head trauma, assaultive or violent behavior, a history of abuse as victim, intellectual or neurodevelopmental disorders, physical disabilities, or a special education history.
Claim that 75% of prison population has 4+ ACEs Statistic
A Thomas Jefferson University MPH capstone scoping review abstract states that 75% of the prison population has experienced 4 or more ACEs, citing Anda et al., 2022.
75%
BJS: 19% of state prisoners, 10% federal, 16% jail/probation report abuse before sentence Statistic
A BJS report found 19% of State prison inmates, 10% of Federal inmates, and 16% of those in local jails or on active probation reported being physically or sexually abused before their current sentence.
19% vs. 10 percent federal inmates
BJS: Parental incarceration among federal prisoners 2016 Statistic
23% of federal prisoners reported a parent had ever been incarcerated: 17% father, 3% mother, 4% both parents.
23%
Per-event odds increases for mental health outcomes Statistic
Among incarcerated women in a substance abuse treatment evaluation, for each one-unit increase in childhood traumatic events, the odds of having received mental health treatment as an adult increased by 40% (P < .001), the odds of taking psychotropic medication increased by 27% (P < .001), and the odds of a positive GSI (psychological distress) score increased by 35% (P < .001).
40% vs. 27 percent increase in odds (psychotropic medication)
ACEs assessed using 10-item Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire Methodology note
ACEs were assessed using the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (Felitti et al., 1998), the 10-item measure requiring dichotomous yes/no responses.
Welsh male prisoners mental illness by ACE count Statistic
Among male prisoners in Wales, lifetime mental illness diagnosis prevalence rose from 35.1% among those with no ACEs to 64.3% among those with 4 or more ACEs, an association significant at p
64.3% vs. 35.1 percent with no ACEs
Pooled cumulative ACE prevalence 39.4% in youth offenders (Astridge et al.) Statistic
In Astridge et al.'s systematic review and meta-analysis of ACEs in youth offenders, the pooled prevalence of cumulative ACEs was 39.4%, and the pooled prevalence of individual ACEs ranged between 13.7% and 51.4%.
39.4%
Canadian prisons: 65.7% summary prevalence of any childhood abuse among women Statistic
Bodkin et al.'s systematic review and meta-analysis found the summary prevalence of any type of childhood abuse among women in Canadian prisons was 65.7% (95% CI 52.6-77.7; range 56.2% to 75.0%), while only one study reported prevalence among men, at 35.5%.
65.7% vs. 35.5 % among men (single study)
GDC SOP 508.17 requires assessment for physical/sexual abuse victimization history at initial screening Policy
GDC's "Identification of Offenders with a History of Physical or Sexual Abuse" policy requires that during the initial screening procedure, offenders be assessed for a history of victimization by physical and/or sexual abuse.
No pooled prevalence calculated in systematic review Data gap
A systematic review of childhood trauma exposure among adult male prison and forensic populations did not calculate pooled prevalence of childhood trauma/ACEs across included studies.
BJS: Living arrangements among state prisoners 2016 Statistic
47% of state prisoners lived primarily with one parent, 35% with both parents, and 18% spent some time in foster homes or institutions while growing up.
47% vs. 35 both parents
Per-event odds increase for mental health treatment Statistic
Among incarcerated women in a substance abuse treatment program, for an increase of 1 childhood traumatic event, the odds of having received mental health treatment increased by 40% (P < .001).
40%
Mean ACEs score among Kentucky incarcerated women Statistic
In the descriptive profile table of the Kentucky jail sample of incarcerated women (N=488), the mean ACEs score (range 0-10) was 5.0 with a standard deviation of 3.0.
5 mean ACEs score
Welsh male prisoners self-harm in prison by ACE count Statistic
Among male prisoners in Wales, lifetime self-harm in prison increased from 2.7% among those with no ACEs to 31.0% among those with 4 or more ACEs.
31% vs. 2.7 percent with no ACEs
Astridge et al. meta-analysis included 31 studies and 423,972 participants Methodology note
Astridge et al.'s systematic review and meta-analysis of ACEs in youth offenders was based on 31 studies with a combined sample size of 423,972 participants.
GDC SOP 508.17 policy to identify, refer, and treat offenders with abuse history Policy
GDC's policy on Identification of Offenders with a History of Physical or Sexual Abuse states it is GDC policy to identify, refer and treat offenders who are in need of mental health services due to a sexual or physical abuse history.
BJS state prison inmates: 18.7% ever abused, 14.4% male / 36.7% female abused before 18 Statistic
A BJS table on prior abuse of correctional populations gives, for State prison inmates, 18.7% total / 16.1% male / 57.2% female ever abused before admission, and 14.4% male / 36.7% female abused before age 18.
18.7% vs. 57.2 percent female ever abused
BJS: Living arrangements among federal prisoners 2016 Statistic
42% of federal prisoners lived primarily with one parent, 40% with both parents, and nearly 10% spent some time in foster homes or institutions.
42% vs. 40 both parents
Per-event odds increase for psychotropic medication Statistic
Among the same sample of incarcerated women, for an increase of 1 childhood traumatic event, the odds of taking psychotropic medication increased by 27% (P < .001).
27%
Final Kentucky sample size after excluding missing data Statistic
Of the 500 incarcerated women with OUDs who participated in the baseline interview prior to January 2023, 12 women were excluded for missing data, resulting in a final sample of N=488.
488 people
Welsh prison ACE study measurement tools Methodology note
The Welsh prison ACE study used the CDC short ACE tool and the WHO Short Child Maltreatment Questionnaire to measure exposure to 11 categories of adverse childhood experience before age 18.
Data gap: no Georgia-specific ACE or trauma prevalence data in document Data gap
The document compiles international and non-Georgia research on ACEs and trauma among incarcerated populations but contains no Georgia-specific data on ACE prevalence, trauma exposure, or PTSD among people in Georgia prisons, representing a data gap for GPS research.
Skarupski et al. sample: 192 male inmates in maximum security prison Statistic
Study participants in Skarupski et al.'s Aging & Mental Health study were 192 male inmates in a maximum security prison who completed measures of ACEs related to death, trauma, and abuse.
192 male inmates
GDC SOP 508.17 lists childhood abuse, battered spouses, rape victims as treatment program targets Policy
GDC's policy on Identification of Offenders with a History of Physical or Sexual Abuse states that mental health treatment programs should include but not be limited to programs for those impacted by childhood physical or sexual abuse, battered spouses, and rape victims.
BJS federal prison inmates: 9.5% ever abused, 5.8% male / 23.0% female abused before 18 Statistic
A BJS table gives, for Federal prison inmates, 9.5% total / 7.2% male / 39.9% female ever abused before admission, and 5.8% male / 23.0% female abused before age 18.
9.5% vs. 39.9 percent female ever abused
BJS: Foster care history among prisoners 2016 Statistic
17.1% of all prisoners, 9.5% of federal prisoners, and 18.1% of state prisoners reported ever living in foster home, agency, or institution while growing up.
17.1% vs. 18.1 state prisoners
FOTEP women reporting 4 or more childhood traumatic events Statistic
In the same FOTEP sample (n=491), 10.6% reported 4 childhood traumatic events and 21.2% reported 5 or more, for a combined 31.8% reporting 4 or more childhood traumatic events.
31.8%
Minnesota incarcerated persons ACE distribution Statistic
In Clark and Duwe's Minnesota Department of Corrections sample, 15% of incarcerated persons did not experience any of the 10 included ACEs, 37% reported one to three ACEs, and 48% reported four or more ACEs.
48%
Welsh male prisoners ACE prevalence Statistic
In a survey of adult male prisoners at HMP Parc in Wales, 84.2% had suffered at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE) and 45.5% had suffered 4 or more ACEs.
84.2% vs. 45.5 percent with 4+ ACEs
Prisoner ACE Survey (Wales): 468 adults interviewed 2018 Statistic
The Prisoner ACE Survey (Ford et al., Public Health Wales/Bangor University) interviewed 468 adults aged 18-69 in a Welsh prison between February and June 2018, asking about exposure to 11 ACEs in childhood.
468 adults
GDC SOP 220.05 requires victimization risk screening within 24 hours of arrival Policy
GDC's "Diagnostic Reception, Orientation, and Processing" policy requires counseling staff to conduct a screening for risk of victimization and abusiveness using the Victim/Aggressor Classification Instrument in SCRIBE within 24 hours of arrival at the facility.
BJS jail inmates: 16.4% ever abused, 11.9% male / 36.6% female abused before 18 Statistic
A BJS table gives, for jail inmates, 16.4% total / 12.9% male / 47.6% female ever abused before admission, and 11.9% male / 36.6% female abused before age 18.
16.4% vs. 47.6 percent female ever abused
BJS: Family incarceration among prisoners 2016 Statistic
58.8% of all prisoners, 50.3% of federal prisoners, and 59.9% of state prisoners reported a family member had ever been incarcerated.
58.8% vs. 59.9 state prisoners
FOTEP distribution of childhood traumatic events Statistic
In the FOTEP sample (n=491), the shares reporting 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5+ childhood traumatic events were 16.7%, 21.8%, 14%, 10.6%, and 21.2% respectively, summing to 84.3% reporting at least 1 childhood traumatic event.
84.3%
Welsh male prisoners adjusted odds ratios for ACEs 4+ Statistic
In adjusted logistic regression among male Welsh prisoners, compared with those reporting no ACEs, those with 4 or more ACEs had adjusted odds ratios of 3.96 for lifetime mental illness diagnosis, 10.69 for lifetime self-harm, 15.08 for lifetime self-harm in prison, 4.36 for lifetime suicide attempt, and 7.98 for lifetime suicide attempt in prison (all p
4.0 adjusted odds ratio
Prisoner ACE Survey final analytic sample: 468 Methodology note
In the Prisoner ACE Survey, the final sample size for analysis was 468, after two individuals were removed due to missing ACE data.
Georgia DJJ probation youth administered MAYSI-2 at first face-to-face contact Policy
JJGPS reports that Georgia requires use of a research-based mental health screening tool, and that youth on DJJ probation are administered the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument, 2nd Edition (MAYSI-2), during their first face-to-face contact with DJJ staff.
BJS probationers: 15.7% ever abused, 8.8% male / 28.2% female abused before 18 Statistic
A BJS table gives, for probationers, 15.7% total / 9.3% male / 40.4% female ever abused before admission, and 8.8% male / 28.2% female abused before age 18.
15.7% vs. 40.4 percent female ever abused
BJS: Sibling incarceration among prisoners 2016 Statistic
37.4% of all prisoners reported a sibling had been incarcerated.
37.4%
ACE study sample more socially integrated than criminal justice population Methodology note
In Messina & Grella's AJPH study, the authors note that ACE studies were conducted with individuals from a large HMO, and that sample comprised individuals more socially integrated than people in the criminal justice system.
Minnesota DOC ACE assessment pilot sample Statistic
In the Minnesota DOC study (Clark & Duwe), the ACEs assessment was piloted in the spring of 2021 at Minnesota's 10 all-male prisons; of 3,335 male and 400 female incarcerated persons invited to participate, 1,774 males and 337 females completed the assessment, resulting in a total sample of 2,100.
2,100 people
Welsh male prisoners low mental wellbeing odds ratio Statistic
Among male Welsh prisoners, individuals with ≥4 ACEs were four times (AOR 4.35, p
4.4 adjusted odds ratio
Prisoner ACE Survey: 84.1% at least one ACE, 45.5% four or more Statistic
In the Prisoner ACE Survey, 84.1% of participants reported experiencing at least one ACE, with 45.5% reporting exposure to four or more ACEs.
84.1% vs. 45.5 % reporting four or more ACEs
Merrick et al. JAMA Pediatrics: 38.45% reported 0 ACEs, 15.81% reported 4+ ACEs Statistic
In a Merrick et al. JAMA Pediatrics report using multi-state BRFSS data, 38.45% of respondents reported experiencing 0 ACEs; 23.53% reported 1 ACE; 13.38% reported 2 ACEs; 8.83% reported 3 ACEs; and 15.81% reported 4 or more ACEs.
15.8% vs. 38.5 0 ACEs
BJS state inmates: abuse by childhood living arrangement (both parents 14.0% M / 54.7% F; foster 43.6% M / 86.7% F) Statistic
A BJS sidebar table 'Percent of State inmates reporting abuse' gives, by childhood living arrangement: both parents 14.0% male / 54.7% female; one parent 16.4% male / 57.3% female; foster/agency/other 43.6% male / 86.7% female.
43.6% vs. 14 percent male with both parents
BJS: Living with parents among prisoners 2016 Statistic
34.8% of state prisoners and 40.4% of federal prisoners lived most of time with both parents; 47.4% of state and 42.4% of federal lived with one parent.
34.8% vs. 40.4 federal prisoners both parents
FOTEP women had greater ACE exposure than HMO sample Finding
In Messina & Grella's AJPH study, the FOTEP sample of drug-dependent female offenders had considerably greater overall exposure to childhood adverse events compared with the HMO sample of women from the ACE studies.
Minnesota DOC ACE distribution by sex Statistic
In the Minnesota Department of Corrections sample of incarcerated women (n=328), 14% had 0 ACEs, 29% had 1 to 3 ACEs, and 57% had 4 or more ACEs.
57%
Welsh male prisoners lifetime mental illness AOR Statistic
Among male Welsh prisoners, those with ≥4 ACEs had an adjusted odds ratio of 3.96 (CI 2.20-7.11, P
4.0 adjusted odds ratio
Wolff & Shi study setting: 10 northeast U.S. men's prisons housing ~24,000 Methodology note
In Wolff & Shi's study, the study population was drawn from 10 adult prisons for men operated by a State Department of Corrections in the northeast United States, a system housing approximately 24,000 men in a dozen maximum, medium, and minimum security prisons.
Merrick et al. sample: 61.55% had at least 1 ACE, 24.64% reported 3+ ACEs Statistic
Of the respondents included in a Merrick et al. JAMA Pediatrics BRFSS sample (51.51% female), 61.55% had at least 1 and 24.64% reported 3 or more ACEs.
61.6% vs. 24.6 3+ ACEs
BJS state inmates: parental substance abuse linked to higher abuse rates (29.4% M / 75.7% F vs 10.0% / 45.9%) Statistic
A BJS sidebar table gives, by whether a parent abused alcohol or drugs while the inmate was growing up: 29.4% of male and 75.7% of female State inmates whose parent abused alcohol or drugs reported abuse, versus 10.0% male and 45.9% female whose parent did not abuse.
29.4% vs. 10 percent male with no parental abuse
BJS definition of 'while growing up' Methodology note
BJS defines 'while growing up' in Survey of Prison Inmates family-background items as when prisoners were younger than 18.
ACE measurement instrument in Messina & Grella Methodology note
In Messina & Grella's AJPH study, indicators of childhood traumatic events were based on self-reports of events before the age of 16 years using items from the Life Stressor Checklist-Revised (LSC-R).
Minnesota incarcerated males with 4+ ACEs vs CDC-Kaiser Statistic
In the Minnesota DOC study (Clark & Duwe), forty-six percent of incarcerated males reported experiencing four or more ACEs, compared to 9 percent of males in the CDC-Kaiser sample.
46% vs. 9 CDC-Kaiser males with 4+ ACEs
Welsh male prisoners lifetime self-harm AOR Statistic
Among male Welsh prisoners, those with ≥4 ACEs had an adjusted odds ratio of 10.69 (CI 4.39-26.04, P
10.7 adjusted odds ratio
Wolff & Shi sample: 3,986 males, mean age 33.3 Statistic
In Wolff & Shi's study, a total of 3,986 males (mean age = 33.3, SD = 10.1) aged 18 or older participated.
3,986 males
Merrick et al. JAMA Pediatrics study objective and data period Methodology note
This JAMA Pediatrics study's objective was to provide an updated prevalence estimate of adverse childhood experiences in the United States using a sample of adults in 23 states, with data collected through BRFSS from January 1, 2011, through December 31, 2014.
Data gap: no Georgia adult prison ACE prevalence measurement identified Data gap
The document compiles Georgia general-population ACE data (BRFSS, NSCH), juvenile-justice trauma indicators (DJJ), and national correctional abuse data (BJS), but identifies no direct ACE prevalence measurement for Georgia's adult prison population. Georgia-specific ACE figures describe the general adult and child populations, not incarcerated adults.
BJS: Childhood background of parents in state prison Statistic
40% of parents in state prison reported living in household receiving public assistance, 14% in foster home/agency/institution, and 43% living with both parents most of time.
40% vs. 14 foster home/agency/institution
Range of childhood traumatic event types in FOTEP sample Statistic
In Messina & Grella's AJPH study, Table 1 shows the frequencies of 8 types of childhood traumatic events, ranging from 14.5% of women reporting physical neglect to 47.6% reporting witnessing family violence.
14.5% vs. 47.6 percent (witnessing family violence)
Levenson et al. 2016: 48% of incarcerated male sex offenders reported 4+ ACEs Statistic
The Minnesota DOC report states that in a non-random sample of 679 incarcerated male sex offenders, Levenson and colleagues (2016) found that 48 percent of the sample reported four or more ACEs, and only 16 percent did not report any of the 10 ACEs included in the CDC-Kaiser study.
48%
Welsh male prisoners self-harm in prison AOR Statistic
Among male Welsh prisoners, those with ≥4 ACEs had an adjusted odds ratio of 15.08 (CI 3.54-64.27, P
15.1 adjusted odds ratio
Data gap: no Georgia-specific ACE prevalence data among prisoners in reviewed literature Data gap
The reviewed literature contains no Georgia-specific measurement of ACE prevalence among incarcerated populations; all prevalence figures cited are from other U.S. states, Canada, Australia, Norway, or Wales, leaving Georgia's ACE burden among prisoners unmeasured in this compilation.
Georgia not listed among states in Merrick et al. 2011-2014 BRFSS ACE analysis Data gap
The Box listing states with BRFSS ACE items included in this JAMA Pediatrics analysis by year (2011-2014) does not list Georgia among the states for 2011, 2012, 2013, or 2014.
BJS: Childhood background of parents in federal prison Statistic
31% of parents in federal prison reported growing up in household receiving public assistance, 7% in foster home/agency/institution.
31% vs. 7 foster home/agency/institution
FOTEP evaluation sample composition Methodology note
The FOTEP evaluation in Messina & Grella's AJPH study included a convenience sample of 500 women eligible for FOTEP participation on parole from 5 California prisons.
Messina et al. 2007: >30% of drug-dependent incarcerated adults reported 4+ ACEs Statistic
The Minnesota DOC report states that Messina et al. (2007) found that more than 30 percent of the drug-dependent incarcerated adults they interviewed reported four or more of the nine ACEs included in their study.
30%
Welsh male prisoners lifetime suicide attempt AOR Statistic
Among male Welsh prisoners, those with ≥4 ACEs had an adjusted odds ratio of 4.36 (CI 2.22-8.56, P
4.4 adjusted odds ratio
CDC lists Georgia collecting BRFSS ACE data in 2016, 2018, and 2020 Finding
CDC's own list of states collecting BRFSS ACE data by year shows Georgia among the states collecting in 2016, 2018, and 2020.
BJS: Parental substance abuse among parents in state prison Statistic
43% of mothers vs 33% of fathers in state prison reported parents/guardians abused alcohol or drugs during their youth.
43% vs. 33 fathers
Juvenile offenders' ACE prevalence vs Kaiser population Statistic
Juvenile offenders in the study sample were four times more likely to report four or more ACEs (50%) than Felitti and Anda's Kaiser Permanente adult population (13%).
50% vs. 13 percent (Kaiser population)
Source
Wolff and Shi 2012: 45% of incarcerated men physically assaulted before age 18 Statistic
The Minnesota DOC report states that Wolff and Shi (2012) found that 45 percent of men incarcerated in an unnamed state's prison system had been physically assaulted prior to the age of 18, and 11 percent had been sexually assaulted.
45%
America's Health Rankings: Georgia rank 28, ACE value 15.8% Statistic
America's Health Rankings lists Georgia with a rank of 28 and a value of 15.8% for its adverse childhood experiences measure.
15.8%
BJS: Abuse history among parents in state prison Statistic
20% of parents in state prison had a history of physical or sexual abuse.
20%
Juvenile offenders less likely to report zero ACEs Statistic
Florida juvenile offenders were 13 times less likely to report zero ACEs (2.8%) than Felitti and Anda's Kaiser Permanente adult population (36%).
2.8% vs. 36 percent (Kaiser population)
Source
Female juvenile offenders with 4+ and 5+ ACEs Statistic
Of the 13,692 females in the Baglivio study with one or more ACE indicators, 63% reported at least four ACEs and 46% reported five or more.
63% vs. 46 percent (five or more ACEs)
Source
No Georgia-specific ACE or trauma prevalence data identified Data gap
The document contains no Georgia-specific data on adverse childhood experiences or trauma among incarcerated populations, despite the title's reference to 'what Georgia knows.' All cited studies are from Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, and Minnesota.
America's Health Rankings US ACE value 14.1% Statistic
America's Health Rankings reports a US Value of 14.1% for its adverse childhood experiences measure.
14.1%
BJS: Parental substance abuse among parents in federal prison Statistic
27% of parents in federal prison reported parent/guardian abused alcohol or drugs during youth.
27%
Male juvenile offenders with 4+ and 5+ ACEs Statistic
Of the 48,844 males in the Baglivio study who reported at least one ACE indicator, 48% reported four or more and 28% reported five or more.
48% vs. 28 percent (five or more ACEs)
Source
Juvenile offenders reporting no ACEs by sex Statistic
Only 3.1% of males and 1.8% of females in the Baglivio study reported no ACEs.
3.1% vs. 1.8 percent (females)
Source
BJS: Abuse history among parents in state prison by gender and living arrangement Statistic
19.9% of all parents in state prison experienced physical/sexual abuse; 16.1% fathers and 59.7% mothers living with children, 15.7% fathers and 72.4% mothers not living with children.
19.9% vs. 72.4 mothers not living with children
Male juvenile offenders with 5+ ACEs Statistic
Of the males in the Baglivio study, 27.4% reported five or more ACEs.
27.4%
Source
BJA: Childhood abuse among women with serious mental illness Statistic
Women with lifetime SMI reported childhood physical abuse 53% vs 32% without SMI, and childhood sexual abuse 60% vs 37%.
53% vs. 32 without SMI physical abuse
Female juvenile offenders with 5+ ACEs Statistic
45.1% of the females in the Baglivio study reported five or more ACEs.
45.1%
Source
BJS: Abuse rates by parental substance abuse among State inmates Statistic
29.4% of men and 75.7% of women whose parent abused alcohol/drugs reported prior abuse, vs 10.0% men and 45.9% women whose parent did not.
29.4% vs. 10 men without parental substance abuse
PACT assessment tool description Methodology note
The PACT (Positive Achievement Change Tool) is a fourth-generation actuarial risk/needs assessment designed to assess a youth's overall risk to reoffend, used by Baglivio et al. to construct ACE composite scores in a juvenile justice population.
Source
Baglivio study sample size and period Methodology note
Baglivio et al.'s Florida DJJ study assessed 64,329 unduplicated juvenile offenders with the PACT Full Assessment who turned 18 between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2012.
Source
Average composite ACE score by sex in Florida juvenile offenders Statistic
In Baglivio et al.'s Florida juvenile offender ACE study, the average composite ACE score for females was 4.29 and for males was 3.48 (difference statistically significant).
4.3 average ACE score (females) vs. 3.5 average ACE score (males)
Source
No Georgia-specific ACE data in document Data gap
The document contains no Georgia-specific data on adverse childhood experiences or trauma among incarcerated populations, despite the title referencing 'what Georgia knows.' All data are federal (BJS), California, or Florida.
Sources
- Childhood Trauma and Women's Health Outcomes in a California Prison Population, Messina N, Grella C, American Journal of Public Health 96(10):1842-1848, October 2006
- U.S. Department of Justice, parip [7]
- U.S. Department of Justice, WOPRIS
- Using Trauma-Informed Practices to Enhance Safety
- Childhood Trauma and Women’s Health Outcomes in a California Prison Population - PMC, PMC1586137 [1]
- osg.ca.gov: CA OSG Report Justice Sector Brief 12092020
- Childhood Trauma and Women’s Health Outcomes in a California Prison Population | AJPH | Vol. 96 Issue 10
- Ojjdp (ojp.gov)
Sources
107 cited sources backing this research.
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Key Entities
Organizations, people, facilities, and other named entities referenced in this research.
America's Health Rankings
[organization]
Astridge et al. meta-analysis
[case]
Athens-Clarke County Jail
[facility]
Baglivio et al. Florida juvenile offender ACE study
[case]
Bangor University
[organization]
Bedford Hills Correctional Facility
[facility]
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
[organization]
Bureau of Justice Assistance
[organization]
Bureau of Justice Statistics
[organization]
California Office of the Surgeon General
[organization]
CDC
[organization]
Childhood maltreatment and suicide attempts in prisoners meta-analytic review
[case]
Clark and Duwe Minnesota DOC study
[case]
Compassion Prison Project
[organization]
Correctional Service of Canada
[organization]
Council of State Governments Justice Center
[organization]
Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
[organization]
Dierkhising et al. study
[case]
Emory University Injury Prevention Research Center
[organization]
Felitti et al. CDC-Kaiser ACE Study
[case]
Female Offender Treatment and Employment Program
[program]
Florida Department of Juvenile Justice
[organization]
Fortune Society
[organization]
Fox et al. Florida DJJ study
[case]
GDC SOP 208.06
[organization]
Georgia
[organization]
Georgia Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
[program]
Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
[organization]
Georgia Department of Corrections
[organization]
Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice
[organization]
Georgia Department of Public Health
[organization]
Georgia House Resolution 14 LC 105 0030
[legislation]
HMP Parc
[facility]
ISTSS fact sheet
[organization]
JJGPS (Juvenile Justice Geography, Policy, Practice & Statistics)
[organization]
Kentucky incarcerated women OUD study
[case]
MAYSI-2 (Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument, 2nd Edition)
[program]
Merrick et al. JAMA Pediatrics ACE study
[case]
Minnesota Department of Corrections
[organization]
Missouri state prisons
[facility]
National Institute of Corrections
[organization]
National Survey of Children's Health
[organization]
Northwestern Juvenile Project
[case]
O.C.G.A. § 15-1-23
[legislation]
O.C.G.A. § 15-11-130.1
[legislation]
Prison Rape Elimination Act
[legislation]
Prisoner ACE Survey
[program]
Public Health Wales
[organization]
Seeking Safety
[program]
Target
[organization]
U.S. Department of Justice
[organization]
Umpunjun, Webb and Morris meta-analysis
[case]
Urban Institute
[organization]
Victim/Aggressor Classification Instrument
[program]