UNITED KINGDOM: Hoodie or Goodie? The link between violent victimisation and offending in young people

Submitted by crinadmin on

[10 October 2007] - New research published by the charity Victim Support today reveals a complex cycle of violent crime among young people in the UK that challenges pre-conceived ideas that young people are simply either victims or offenders.

The report Hoodie or goodie? shows that certain attitudes and risk factors can influence whether or not young people are likely to commit violent acts, be on the receiving end, or indeed fall into both categories. It suggests that tackling these lifestyle factors could help reduce levels of violence among the young.

The research project was carried out for the charity by BMRB Social Research. It included a review of previous research into violence among young people followed by interviews and workshops with young people aged from 14 to 18 and with adults who work with them.

The researchers looked for common factors or differences between different groups of young people who had carried out violence, been a victim, or both. They also examined whether or not there were consistent ways in which victims turned into offenders and vice versa.

Among the key findings, the study found that:

  • Victims can become offenders because of their experience. Causes could include carrying out retaliation on the offender, or against others in a displaced show of strength or emotion. Victims might also make friends with offenders to seek protection, particularly if they were socially isolated, but this could then lead to them committing offences themselves.
  • Offenders can often become victims of violence. This is because they are at risk of retaliation and are also unlikely to be protected by adults in authority.
  • Many of the risk factors that increase the chances that victims will become offenders are the same as those that make it more likely that offenders will become victims. They include:
    thinking that the only way to deal with anger is through violence or that retaliatory violence is acceptable behaviour
    believing that the police would not help or that their involvement might make things worse.
  • Other lifestyle factors can reduce the risk that victims of violence will turn to offending. They include:
    having good family relationships
    having a positive attitude towards school
    taking part in structured activities with adult supervision, and
    having positive attitudes towards the police.

The insight the research gives into the complex inter-relationships involved in young people's experiences of violent crime should help policy makers, schools, youth workers and parents find new ways to help break the cycle of violence. The project also asked young people about their support needs and found that views were similar on how to help both victims and offenders deal with their experiences in a more positive way.

"Some of our findings might look like nothing more than common sense," said project manager Dr Harriet Beecher of Victim Support.

"But, this is the first time that we have clear evidence for how the lifestyles, beliefs, attitudes and experiences of young people can help determine whether or not they behave as offenders or victims. It also demolishes the myth that young people are either 'hoodies' or 'goodies' as many clearly have experiences of being both.

"More work needs to be done by lots of different agencies to find appropriate interventions to help young people avoid violence. However, this research gives us a firm foundation for where to direct our energies. More importantly, it offers hope that some focused help, support and re-education can help break the victim/offending cycle and reduce violent behaviour among young people."

 

pdf: http://www.crin.org/docs/hoodie_or_goodie_report.pdf

Organisation: 
Victim Support
Attachment Link: 
http://www.crin.org/docs/hoodie_or_goodie_report.pdf

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