The links between victimization and offending

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The links between victimization and offending

• David J. Smith

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Volume of delinquency by variety of
victimization sweep 4
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Volume of broad delinquency by victimization
sweep 4
4
Volume of serious delinquency by victimization
sweep 4
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Correlation between delinquency, bullying, and
victimization s.4
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Correlations between delinquency victimization
at successive sweeps
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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

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Link between consistency of victimization and
delinquency
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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

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Explanations contd.

• Causal relationships between offending and
  victimization
• Offending causes victimization
• Victimization causes offending

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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

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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

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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

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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