Date of Award
2026
Degree Name
Criminal Justice
College
College of Science
Type of Degree
M.S.
Document Type
Thesis
First Advisor
Dr. Wendy Perkins
Second Advisor
Dr. Dru Bora
Third Advisor
Dr. Leslie-Dawn Quick
Abstract
Female-perpetrated violence has exhibited concerning data trends in recent years. Prior scholarship indicates that past victimization and trauma in childhood, known as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), are highly prevalent among women offenders. However, the research concerning ACEs and violent females is scattered. This thesis provides a scoping literature review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) updated 2020 guidelines. A systematic database search was conducted using Academic Search Complete, SAGE Journals, Springer Nature Link, and HeinOnline to identify relevant peer-reviewed journal articles. Inclusion and exclusion criteria are established, focusing on studies published after January 2015. These articles examine system-involved adult women with reported violent behavior and ACEs histories from English-speaking countries. Findings indicate that ACEs and female violent offending are linked, as violent populations display significantly higher ACE prevalence than non-violent populations. Furthermore, multiple studies reported significant associations between ACEs and violent behavior. However, the conceptualization and measurement of key variables varied widely across the literature, limiting generalizability and the potential for meta-analyses. Future research should utilize consistent ACE item measures and similar definitions for violent offending. The development and empirical testing of specific program solutions should be prioritized as well, targeting early trauma-informed interventions and gender-sensitive victim services for offenders.
Subject(s)
Criminology.
Criminal sciences.
Criminal justice.
Psychic trauma in children.
Female offenders.
Women prisoners.
Violent offenders.
Crime -- Psychological aspects.
Crime -- Sociological aspects.
Recommended Citation
Wolgemuth, Alexis M., "The influence of adverse childhood experiences on female violent offending: a scoping systematic review" (2026). Theses, Dissertations and Capstones. 2103.
https://mds.marshall.edu/etd/2103
Included in
Criminal Law Commons, Criminal Procedure Commons, Criminology Commons, Criminology and Criminal Justice Commons
