The links between victimization and offending

David J. Smith

Volume of delinquency by variety of victimization: sweep 4

7.512.2

18.9

25.5

35.3

53.7

1.3 2.4 4.4 6.611.1

18.6

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Vol

um

e of

del

inq

uen

cy

Broad delinquency Serious delinquency

012345

Volume of broad delinquency by victimization: sweep 4

34.4

21.4

30.2

17.4

23.3

10

9.3

11.5

10.9

9.5

0 10 20 30 40

Assault with weapon

Threats

Robbery

Theft

Simple assault

Mean volume of delinquency

Not victimVictim

Volume of serious delinquency by victimization: sweep 4

11.1

5.3

9.7

4.1

6.1

1.8

1.8

2.4

2.3

1.8

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Assault with weapon

Threats

Robbery

Theft

Simple assault

Volume of serious delinquency

Not victimVictim

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

0.47

0.35

0.1

0.41

0.4

0.26

0.05

0.38

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5

Bullyingothers

Adultharassment

Bullyingvictimization

Crimevictimization

Correlation coefficient

Serious delinquencyBroad delinquency

Correlations between delinquency & victimization at successive sweeps

0

0.05

0.1

0.150.2

0.25

0.30.35

0.4

0.450.5

VICT1 VICT2 VICT3 VICT4

SRD1

SRD2

SRD3

SRD4

Links between victimization and delinquency over time

1. The strongest link is between victimization and offending over the same 12-month period

2. But victimization is linked with delinquency up to three years later

3. Equally, delinquency is linked to victimization up to three years later

Link between consistency of victimization and delinquency

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Vol

um

e of

del

inq

uen

cy

Broad delinquency Serious delinquency

High consistentMedium consistentHigh-level inconsistentLow-level inconsistentNever victimized

Explanations

1. Interaction within a social circle

A. Polarized circles of acquaintance

B. Interactions with intimate relationships

2. Common origins of offending and victimization

A. Personal characteristics

B. Social and environmental factors

Explanations contd.

3. Causal relationships between offending and victimization

A. Offending causes victimization

B. Victimization causes offending

Evidence relating to these explanations

1. Regression analyses use victimization at sweep 2 to predict delinquency at sweep 4, and vice versa

2. The basic model (step 1) confirms strong links in both directions. Adult harassment as well as victimization predicts later delinquency

Evidence contd.

3. At step 2, personality (risk-taking) and social class explain a small part of the link

4. At step 3, risky activities and situations, and delinquent friends, explains a substantial part of the link

5. At steps 4 and 5, parental bonds and neighbourhood deprivation increase, and do not reduce, the link

Conclusions

1. 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

2. To a small extent, the same personality traits underlie both

Conclusions contd.

3. There is evidence for a genuine causal link between victimization, running in both directions

4. The findings reinforce the Kilbrandon philosophy, which advocates dealing with young people according to their needs, not primarily as offenders or victims