Abuse and disability trap: 90% of incarcerated Michigan youth suffered prior abuse
September 28, 2026
ANN ARBOR—Nearly every incarcerated male youth in a new University of Michigan study experienced some form of prior physical abuse.
Nine in 10 were exposed to at least mild physical abuse, one-third suffered severe prior sexual abuse, and two-thirds reported adverse childhood experiences, according to U-M researchers, who looked at incarcerated adolescents ages 13-20 at a single all-male juvenile detention facility in Michigan.
“What really stuck out to me most was the sexual abuse rate, that 70% of them had at least some exposure to sexual abuse,” said Suzanne Perkins, research assistant professor at the U-M Institute for Social Research. “I’ve worked with a lot of kids, so very few things upset me in the work that I do. But when I saw that statistic, I just burst into tears. I couldn’t believe that it was such a high statistic.”
According to the study, published in the Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, 85% of the teenagers had a learning disability, a mental health condition or both. More than 75% showed signs of a learning or cognitive disability during direct testing.
The findings also showed that more than 60% had a disability listed in their official records before the study. In addition, 80% met the criteria for multiple diagnoses and 25% qualified for five or more diagnoses.
“Children with genetic disorders or disabilities are much more likely to be targeted for violence and sexual abuse,” Perkins said. “At the same time, violence causes cognitive problems through brain injury mechanisms. The relationship is bidirectional.”
Perkins and colleagues reviewed medical and educational records, surveyed participants about their experiences with violence and trauma, and also conducted individual cognitive and educational testing.
According to the researchers, the relationship between disability and violence can work in both directions. Young people with disabilities may be more vulnerable to abuse, while violence and trauma can contribute to cognitive problems.
The study also highlights the importance of identifying learning and cognitive problems early.
“Schooling is really central,” Perkins said. “Young people who have missed school or struggled academically may need interventions for reading, attention, organization and planning.”
The study suggests that support should address the broader circumstances surrounding young people’s lives, including housing, food, healthcare and dental care.
“It’s a multipronged problem that really requires social work and schools and counseling, and not just policing,” Perkins said.
Hidden cognitive needs
The study also included cognitive experiments testing inhibition and other executive functions—direct testing that Perkins said is less common in research on incarcerated youth, which tends to rely on medical and educational records.
The findings suggest that understanding these kids’ learning and cognitive needs could help schools and service providers identify problems before they become harder to treat.
“If you want to stop this from being an ongoing problem, you really need to start with early intervention,” Perkins said.
Study: The Comorbidity of Violence Exposure, Mental Health, Cognitive Functioning, and Disabilities in Incarcerated Youth(DOI: 10.1007/s40653-026-00960-w)
Contact: Fernanda Pires, [email protected]