Patterns of intergenerational child protection involvement and young people’s criminal justice contact: Findings from a population-based Australian study

This study examined intergenerational patterns of child protection system involvement and subsequent criminal justice system contact up to age ~18 years in a sample of 75,784 Australian young people and their parents. Families were classified into four patterns: ‘cycle maintainers’ (both generations known to child protection), ‘cycle initiators’ (young people only), ‘cycle breakers’ (parents only) and no history of child protection. Prevalence of criminal justice contacts increased across the four intergenerational patterns (no history < ‘cycle breakers’ < ‘cycle initiators’ < ‘cycle maintainers’). Findings highlight the need to understand system involvement as a cumulative, cross-sector process.