UNM Law School Associate Professor Yael Cannon

A recent study co-authored by UNM School of Law Associate Professor Yael Zakai Cannon shows the relationship between “adverse childhood experiences,” or ACEs, and juvenile delinquency.

It also sheds light on the role that law and medicine can play in improving outcomes for children with adverse experiences.

For “Adverse Childhood Experiences in the New Mexico Juvenile Justice Population,” recently published by the New Mexico Sentencing Commission, Cannon also collaborated with faculty from the UNM School of Medicine and the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department.

Cannon co-authored the study - with Dr. George Davis, New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department Director of Psychiatric Services, alumna Alexandra Bochte, Esq., and Dr. Andrew Hsi, MD, UNM School of Medicine Professor and Director of the UNM Health Sciences Institute for Resilience Health and Justice.  Dr. Hsi says the study was developed “from one of the most thorough and rigorous review of criminal justice, social services, educational, mental health, and medical records done on incarcerated youth.”

The study found that the youth committed to New Mexico’s juvenile justice facilities suffered high numbers of adverse childhood experiences (known as ACEs) and other forms of trauma preceding incarceration. “They had profound rates of mental illness and substance use disorders as the outcomes from the trauma and toxic stress in their lives,” Hsi says. “The findings carry implications for life long poor health and justice outcomes unless systems of legal, social, educational, health, and vocational support become accessible and organized when these youth return to society.  Our statewide systems also need to look to prevention models to interrupt the path from childhood trauma to delinquency.” 

Cannon and two of her co-authors were interviewed on the New Mexico PBS program Public Square in an episode titled “Children, Trauma and Resiliency” on February 25, 2016.  The program discussed adverse childhood experiences in New Mexico and examined how the community is coming to better understand the impact of childhood trauma and providing resources to cope with the problem.

Professor Cannon and Dr. Hsi recently reviewed their study and its implications with a statewide meeting of Children’s Court judges and plan to further discuss their findings with legislators. executive branch officials, and other stakeholders.  Their research builds on the collaborative work of the UNM School of Law and the UNM Health Sciences Center in the establishment of the Corinne Wolfe Child and Family Justice Center following the receipt of a $2.6 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.  The Center aims to prepare and mobilize lawyers, in partnership with other professionals, to pursue justice and equity and achieve health and well-being for New Mexico’s most vulnerable children and families.