JUVENILE-DELINQUENCY AND ADOLESCENT TRAUMA - HOW STRONG IS THE CONNECTION

Objectives. To determine whether youth convicted of juvenile offenses have a greater risk of injury resulting in hospitalization compared wi th nonoffending adolescents. Design. A statewide hospital discharge da tabase was linked to juvenile justice records to identify all hospital izations occurring at ages 13 to 17 years for juvenile offenders and n onoffenders. Subjects. Juvenile offenders and nonoffenders in Washingt on State during 1989 through 1992. Main Outcome Measures. Incidence of hospitalizations attributable to injury, analyzed by cause of injury and intent. Results. The prevalence of delinquency was 19.1% of male a nd 9.5% of female adolescents. Hospitalization for injury was 2.7-fold greater for male and 1.6-fold greater for female offenders compared w ith nonoffenders. The greatest risk of hospitalization was for intenti onal injury, especially that attributable to firearms, and for drug ov erdoses. Conclusions. Juvenile offenders are much more likely to be ho spitalized for an injury than nonoffenders. Admission to the hospital for trauma may serve as an opportunity for health providers to interve ne with youth exhibiting high-risk behavior.