Breaking the Chain: A Fresh Look at Juvenile Violence

The Root Causes

Juvenile violence in Bernalillo County is a pressing issue. But are these kids born violent? Probably not. The real problem seems to be family struggles and a lack of community support. Locking them up might not be the best solution—it could even make things worse.

The Impact of Childhood Trauma

Researchers have found that bad experiences in childhood can lead to big problems later. These experiences, known as Adverse Childhood Events (ACES), include:

Abuse
Neglect
Witnessing violence

New Mexico has the highest number of ACES in the country. 80% of kids in state detention have four or more ACES. That's a lot of trauma.

The Cycle of Trauma

These experiences can lead to:

Depression
Alcohol or drug abuse
Incarceration

It's a cycle that's hard to break.

Alternative Solutions

There are other ways to help. One program, High Fidelity Wraparound (HFW), uses community case managers to support families. It's not about locking kids up—it's about giving them the help they need.

Resources and Collaboration

New Mexico has the resources to make this work. The following entities have pieces of the puzzle:

The Human Services Department
The Children, Youth and Families Department
New Mexico State University

They just need to come together.

Breaking the Cycle

Another idea is to treat adults with a history of trauma while they're in prison. About half of them have kids, so helping them could break the cycle.

A Call to Action

It's time for policymakers and funders to use this data and provide the right services from birth to adulthood.