Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are among the most influential risk factors contributing to delinquent and violent behavior in adolescence. The present study aimed to examine the role of ACEs in the delinquency of male juveniles convicted of homicide and to compare them with same-aged non-delinquent girls, in order to explore gender-based differences in responses to trauma. This research employed a causal–comparative design. The study population included all 15–18-year-old male offenders convicted of homicide in the Alborz Juvenile Correction and Rehabilitation Center and a control group of non-delinquent schoolgirls from the same province. Sampling was conducted using a census method for the delinquent group and multistage cluster sampling for the non-delinquent group. Data were collected through the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) supplemented by questions on domestic violence, parental addiction, mental illness, and incarceration. Findings based on the Mann–Whitney test showed that male offenders had significantly higher ACE scores, particularly in physical abuse, emotional maltreatment, and parental neglect, indicating the intergenerational cycle of family violence. Conversely, sexual abuse experiences were similar in both groups, though psychological outcomes in girls appeared mainly as anxiety and depression. These findings suggest that gender influences both the severity and type of reaction to early adversity. The study’s novelty lies in its dual-gender comparison and its criminological interpretation of trauma. Results can inform gender-sensitive prevention and rehabilitation programs in correctional centers, anger management education for boys, and psychosocial support services for at-risk girls