Adolescent Offending Flashcards
Adolescent offending
Key findings: Age Sex Percentage of all offenders Two types of adolescent offenders Adult age in Qld
Age: 15-17yrs increase in levels of offending
Sex: Mostly male
Percentage: 13% of overall offenders
Types: adolescent limited + life course offenders
Age in Qld - 10-17 = juvenile, 18 = adult
Common offences
Theft Assault Illicit drugs Public order offences Vandalism
*mainly non-custodial offences
Life-course persistent offenders
Commit a wide range of offences
Very small group of offenders but account for the most crime
Those convicted earliest tend to become the most persistent offenders
Offend early and continue beyond 20years
Adolescent-limited offenders
Short criminal careers
Commit predominantly rebellious non-violent crimes
Risk and Protective factors - types
Individual
Family
Other macro levels (sociological), e.g. socioeconomic, school, peer, neighbourhood
- risk/protective factors are cumulative
- different factors matter at different time
- increased number = increased likelihood
Individual risk factors
Low IQ Low school achievement Hyperactivity Impulsiveness Risk taking Antisocial behaviour Neurological problems Perinatal difficulties
*risk/protective factors don’t exist on a continuum
Individual protective factors
Social competence Social skills Attachment to family Moral beliefs Values Good coping style
Family risk factors
Poor parental supervision Harsh/inconsistent discipline Cold parental attitude Parental conflict Divorce/separation Criminal parents Delinquent siblings Parental substance abuse
Family protective factors
Caring parents
Family harmony
Small family
Macro risk factors:
Socioeconomic
Peer
School
Neighbourhood
Socioeconomic: low family income, poverty, large family, parents unemployed
Peer: delinquent peers, peer rejection, low popularity
School: bullying, high delinquency rate, poor community, under resourced, teacher-school
Neighbourhood: poverty, poor access to resources, high crime/violence, disorganised
Macro protective factors
School/peer
Neighbourhood
School/peer: protective school climate, pro social peer group, sense of attachment to school, school norms
Neighbourhood: access to support services, community networking, community/cultural norms against violence; high socioeconomic status
Antecedents to adolescent offending
Parenting related: Punitive child rearing Absence of love/rejection Poor monitoring or supervision Family disruption Deviant parents
Theories of delinquency
Individual propensity approaches: consequence of individual factors
- e.g. theory of moral reasoning
Social interactionist approaches: social control + social learning theory, e.g. social development model, general age-graded theory of crime
An integrated factor approach: a pathways approach
Purpose of interventions
Selected and targeted programs have the greatest impact
Aim to change antisocial behaviours by targeting risk factors - not always aimed at reducing crime
Take place early in life at crucial transitions
Types of programs
Educational programs
Family support programs
Combined family support and early education
