The links between victimization and offending

1. The links between victimization and offending David J. Smith

2. Volume of delinquency by variety of victimization: sweep 4

3. Volume of broad delinquency by victimization: sweep 4

4. Volume of serious delinquency by victimization: sweep 4

5. Correlation between delinquency, bullying, and victimization: s.4

6. Correlations between delinquency & victimization at successive sweeps

7. Links between victimization and delinquency over time • The strongest link is between victimization and offending over the same 12-month period • But victimization is linked with delinquency up to three years later • Equally, delinquency is linked to victimization up to three years later

8. Link between consistency of victimization and delinquency

9. Explanations • Interaction within a social circle • Polarized circles of acquaintance • Interactions with intimate relationships • Common origins of offending and victimization • Personal characteristics • Social and environmental factors

10. Explanations contd. • Causal relationships between offending and victimization • Offending causes victimization • Victimization causes offending

11. Evidence relating to these explanations • Regression analyses use victimization at sweep 2 to predict delinquency at sweep 4, and vice versa • The basic model (step 1) confirms strong links in both directions. Adult harassment as well as victimization predicts later delinquency

12. Evidence contd. • At step 2, personality (risk-taking) and social class explain a small part of the link • At step 3, risky activities and situations, and delinquent friends, explains a substantial part of the link • At steps 4 and 5, parental bonds and neighbourhood deprivation increase, and do not reduce, the link

13. Conclusions • The most important factors explaining the link between victimization and offending are getting involved in risky activities and situations, and having a delinquent circle of friends • To a small extent, the same personality traits underlie both

14. Conclusions contd. • There is evidence for a genuine causal link between victimization, running in both directions • The findings reinforce the Kilbrandon philosophy, which advocates dealing with young people according to their needs, not primarily as offenders or victims