How Common Are Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)?

64% of the U.S. population has at least one ACE.

No Data Found

cdc.gov

98% of the prison population has at least one ACE.

No Data Found

Compassion Prison Project

Comparison of ACE Categories

ACE Prevalence in Men
General Population vs. Incarcerated Population
Emotional Abuse
35%
63%
Physical Abuse
19%
60%
Sexual Abuse
7%
49%
Emotional Neglect
13%
51%
Physical Neglect
11%
22%
Domestic Violence
17%
35%
Substance Abuse
27%
63%
Parents Living Apart
28%
70%
Mental Illness
14%
28%
Family Member Incarcerated
9%
45%
ACE Prevalence in Women
General Population vs. Incarcerated Population
Emotional Abuse
34%
59%
Physical Abuse
18%
54%
Sexual Abuse
17%
52%
Emotional Neglect
13%
24%
Physical Neglect
13%
24%
Domestic Violence
19%
38%
Substance Abuse
29%
63%
Parents Living Apart
28%
70%
Mental Illness
20%
38%
Family Member Incarcerated
8%
40%

Messina and Burdon 2020, BRFSS data 2011-2014 and ncbi.nim.nih.gov

Children, Adolescents and ACEs

0 %

60% have been exposed to crime, violence and abuse either directly or indirectly.

0 %

50% of youth have been assaulted at least once.

0 %

39% of youth ages 12 to 17 reported witnessing violence.

0 %

34% of youth reported being emotionally bullied and 13% physically bullied.

0 %

30% witnessed a stabbing and 26% witnessed a shooting in an inner city community.

0 %

26% of children age 4 and under experienced a traumatic event.

0 %

25% of youth were victims of robbery, vandalism or theft.

0 %

20% witnessed violence in their family or neighborhood.

0 %

16% of youth aged 14 to 17 were sexually assaulted or sexually abused

0 %

14% repeatedly experienced maltreatment by a caregiver.

0 %

10% reported five or more exposures to violence.

recognizetrauma.org

WITHOUT INTERVENTION, PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED

1 or 2 ACEs

0 x
more likely to

have serious financial problems

0 x
more likely to

smoke

0 x
more likely to

develop pulminary disease

0 x
more likely to

have serious job problems

0 x
more likely to

use antidepressants

0 x
more likely to

develop STDs

WITHOUT INTERVENTION, PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED

3 or more ACEs

0 %
more likely to

experience risk of autoimmune diseases:
Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Rhuematoid Arthritis, Type 1 Diabetes

WITHOUT INTERVENTION, PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED

4 or more ACEs

0 x
more likely to

be diagnosed with cancer or lung cancer

0 x
more likely to

have anxiety

0 x
more likely to

have chronic depression

0 x
more likely to

develop Alzheimer’s

0 x
more likely to

engage in illicit drug use

0 x
more likely to

have problematic alcohol use

0 x
more likely to

go to prison

0 x
more likely to

experience violence victimization in adulthood

0 x
more likely to

attempt suicide

0 %
more likely to

face opiate abuse

WITHOUT INTERVENTION, PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED

5 or more ACEs

0 %
more likely to

have delays in their language, emotional or brain development

0 x
more likely to

have problematic alcohol use

0 x
more likely to

develop COPD (Chronic Obstructive pulmonary Disease)

WITHOUT INTERVENTION, PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED

6 or more ACEs

0 %
more likely to

have a shortened lifespan by 20 years

0 %
more likely to

face opiate addiction

WITHOUT INTERVENTION, PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED

7 or more ACEs

0 x
more likely to

report hallucinations

Hughes, Bellis, Hardcastle, Sethi, et al 2017, Anda 2008, Whitfield 2005 and recognizing trauma.org

to top

Fritzi Horstman

Founder and Executive Director

 

Fritzi Horstman is the Founder and Executive Director of Compassion Prison Project. She is a Grammy-award winning producer for her work on “The Defiant Ones”, has been a producer and post-producer on dozens of television projects and documentaries and has directed several films. She believes it is urgent to bring humanity and compassion to those living behind bars and these acts will help transform our society. She has a Bachelor’s Degree from Vassar College.

Childhood Trauma Statistics