Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Criminal Behavior: A Case of Inmates in Selected Maximumsecurity Prisons in Nairobi City County, Kenya

Abstract

Adverse Childhood Experiences have been linked to criminal behavior in various global studies; however, limited research has explored this relationship in the Kenyan context. This study examined the relationship between ACEs and criminal behavior among inmates in selected maximum-security prisons in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The research was grounded in Psychoanalytic Theory and Social Learning Theory, which explain how early childhood experiences shape adult behavior patterns and how behaviors are acquired through observation and reinforcement. A correlational design with a mixed methods approach was employed, integrating quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. The target population consisted of 4,200 inmates from Langata Women's Maximum Security Prison and Kamiti Maximum Security Prison, along with 30 key informants comprising prison counsellors, wardens, and probation officers. Stratified random sampling was used to select 351 inmate participants, achieving an inmate response rate of 88.0% comprising 309 participants, while all 30 key informants participated giving a 100% key informant response rate. Data collection utilized structured questionnaires comprising demographic information, the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire, and the Brief COPE questionnaire for inmates, along with semi-structured interview guides for key informants. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 28 for descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. Results related to the first objective revealed that the overall prevalence of adverse childhood experiences among inmates was 92.6%, with verbal abuse through swearing, insulting, and humiliation being the predominant type of adverse childhood experience affecting 83.2% of inmates, while pushing, grabbing, and slapping was the most prevalent physical abuse type affecting 69.6% of respondents. The mean ACE score was 1.8 with a standard deviation of 0.9, indicating substantial childhood trauma exposure among the prison population studied. Regarding the second and third objectives, moderate positive correlations were found between emotional abuse and criminal behavior at r equals 0.452 with p less than 0.001, and between physical abuse and criminal behavior at r equals 0.389 with p less than 0.001, demonstrating that both forms of childhood abuse were significantly associated with increased criminal behavior among inmates. Regarding the fourth objective, the evaluation of institutional strategies used to support inmates in coping with adverse childhood experiences revealed that while a range of strategies including counselling, anger management, mentorship, and spiritual guidance existed within the selected facilities, key informants identified resource constraints, inadequate trauma-informed training among staff, and environmental barriers as the primary challenges limiting the effectiveness of these institutional strategies. The study concluded that adverse childhood experiences were highly prevalent among maximum-security prison inmates and significantly associated with criminal behavior patterns. Recommendations included implementing systematic ACE screening protocols, adopting comprehensive trauma-informed care approaches, providing specialized staff training, and developing national policy frameworks for traumainformed corrections in Kenya.