| Juvenile offenders experience elevatedrates of exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACE), with the majority reporting exposure to multiple adverse events. These experiences vary by gender, with girlsreporting increased rates of interpersonal victimization and cumulative adversities compared to boys. Existing literature suggests that ACEs are related to reentry in the criminal justice systemand increased risk of using substances, but there is little research on the indirect role of substance use in the relation between adversity and offending in youth offenders. Moreover, gender differences in ACEs and substance use are understudiedin this population.The present study aimedto expand upon current literature by evaluating gender differences in the relationshipsamong cumulative ACEs, substance use severity, and reoffending in a sample of youth offenders (N = 340). Cumulative adversity significantly predicted reoffending among girls and boys. Additionally, there was a significant mediumindirect effect of ACEs on reoffending via substance use. Though girlsreported higher exposure to adversity and substance use, gender did not interact with ACEs or substance use to predict reoffending. These findings demonstrate the importance of cumulative experiences of adversity in childhood and substance use as predictors of reentry into the criminal justice system. Understanding the role of substance use in the relation between ACEs and reoffending has the potential to contribute to our knowledge of juvenile offenders’ treatment needs and reoffending risk.Keywords: ACE, childhood adversity, substanceuse,recidivism,juvenile offenders |