Child abuse in the United States continues to be a serious and growing problem. Child abuse can place a young person on a non-normative developmental path leading to a range of numerous psychosocial, emotional, and behavioral problems. Child abuse, particularly physical and emotional abuse, is associated with an increased risk of highly aggressive and violent behavior. Child maltreatment is also positively correlated with problem behaviors, including aggression around age 17 (Maughan, D. and Moore, SC 2010). The purpose of this literature review is to show that there is a direct cause and effect relationship between child maltreatment and the likelihood of that child being involved in the justice system. In this article, the role that child abuse plays in juvenile delinquency is examined. The long-term negative consequences of child abuse and neglect are likely to increase the likelihood of abused and neglected youth becoming involved in the juvenile justice system. The following literature reviews attempt to demonstrate and support this hypothesis. Child Abuse and Juvenile Delinquency There is a large body of research regarding the correlation between child maltreatment and juvenile delinquency. Most of these studies all lead to a similar conclusion: "In general, children who experience any type of maltreatment are more likely than children who have not been maltreated to be arrested" (Stevenson, MC 2009 ). In a national sample of 3,472 adolescents, child maltreatment increased the likelihood of committing violent offenses in terms of both participation rate and frequency of offenses. Maltreated youth are 30% more likely to commit a violent offense, have an earlier onset of initiation of delinquent behaviors, and are at higher risk...... middle of paper ......for change this child's life. The more time passes and the more these children go unnoticed, the more difficult the path forward becomes. All of these findings support the “cycle of violence” and also reinforce the need to pay attention to abuse and neglect. These children who are abused and neglected are at high risk of being involved in crime and violence.C. Suggestions for Future Research: With millions of new cases of maltreatment coming to light in the United States, the need to develop interventions that address problematic behaviors is vital. Future research on this specific topic is also needed to help victimized and abused children. For many of these young people, maltreatment is associated with maladaptive development during adolescence. There has been a sharp increase in the quantity of research, as has the quality of research..