A phenomenological analysis of the lived experiences of adolescent female delinquents detained in a correctional treatment facility with a reported history of sexual abuse

There is abundant research that focuses on sexual abuse and criminality. Various researchers have found that women who are sexually abused as children are more likely to became involved in criminal activity later in life. The majority of the studies that looked at sexual abuse and criminality used an adult population. While there have been many quantitative studies that link sexual abuse in women and criminality, very few qualitative research projects have explored the experiences of childhood sexual abuse and its relation to criminality. There is even less research that looks at sexual abuse and criminality, utilizing an adolescent population and qualitative methodology.; The study employed a phenomenological qualitative method to study the lived experience of female adolescent offenders with reported histories of sexual abuse. Using an unstructured interview format, data were collected in interviews with 10 female adolescents, who were currently detained in a secure correctional treatment facility. The researcher analyzed the data from each interview to construct the major themes; 44 sub-themes were identified and placed in one of the eight major themes category: (1) Family Dynamics, (2) Trauma, (3) Disclosure of abuse, (4) Formal education, (5) Defiance, (6) Risk taking behavior, (7) Criminality, and (8) Psychological issues.; Each participant in the study expressed experiencing multiple forms of abuse and trauma. All participants were actively using drugs by the age of 12 to help manage their emotional instability as a result of the trauma. Through critical reflection and introspection, participants noted that acting-out behaviors were directly related to the trauma she had experienced. For the majority of the girls the trauma was rape; for two of the participants, the loss of a parent triggered their defiant behaviors. Most participants described feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, and depression prior to placement. At the end of the interview, several participants revealed feeling hopeful, optimistic, less depressed and looking forward to starting over and changing their once defiant behavior.