A new report from the Baltimore Health Department reaches some interesting but not necessarily startling conclusions. Like adult susects and victims, in which both groups typically have dealings with the criminal justice system, children too live in both worlds.

Looking at past criminal histories, problems with truancy and in school, researchers found the youngest of our victims and suspects to be virtually indistinguishable:

Among the findings, youth who later become victims and perpetrators of violence in Baltimore City begin to show signs of concern to child serving agencies within a year of entering Kindergarten. Among youth with reports to the Department of Social Services for allegations of abuse or neglect (48%), the average age of first involvement was 6.6 years. Academic records point to truancy and suspensions, both with an age of first occurrence around age 13 years (92% of youth with an available school record had a history of chronic truancy and 62% had a history of suspension or expulsion.). The average age of first referral to the Department of Juvenile Services was 13.6 years (73%).

Here is a link to the entire report.