The link between child maltreatment and delinquency, however, is often more subtle and may take years to surface in the course of one child's life. Prevalence Over the past decade, increases in juvenile violence have prompted calls for a tougher response. In 1998, U.S. law enforcement agencies made approximately 2.8 million arrests of people under age 18 who were suspected of violating the law. No one knows exactly how many adjudicated children and youth have been involved with the child welfare system, but numerous studies demonstrate intricate interconnections. Being maltreated increased a child's chances of having a juvenile record by a factor of almost two over children who were not officially abused or neglected.
Many children enter correctional institutions after several child welfare placements.
Others transition into child welfare placements when they leave correctional institutions, and still others enter child welfare placements as an alternative to correctional institutions. These two systems that so frequently serve the same young people have many interests in common and much to learn from each other. Various studies, both national and local, demonstrate we are better able to identify which specific children are at greater risk to commit additional offenses. For example, in Minnesota, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office undertook an initiative to determine what action was needed to address the growing problem of children under age 10 who were the subject of police reports because of their delinquent acts. The county attorney's office learned that children at high risk of delinquency can be preidentified in the child welfare system.