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1.2 - Child and Adolescent Offending

from Part I - Psychological Underpinnings

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2021

By
Elizabeth Paddock ,
Shihning Chou  and
Kevin Browne
Edited by
Jennifer M. Brown  and
Miranda A. H. Horvath
Jennifer M. Brown
Affiliation:
London School of Economics and Political Science
Miranda A. H. Horvath
Affiliation:
University of Suffolk
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Summary

Developmental approaches to child and adolescent offending emphasise the role of individual and psychological factors when explaining the onset of offending, as well as the role of early risk and protective factors on future offending. This chapter will look at incidence and prevalence of young offending including the age crime curve; risk and protective factors; some key theoretical approaches; and interventions. In England and Wales (2018/19), 60,208 arrests of notifiable offences were made to those aged 10-17 years. Interventions that limit social experiences at the critical age of adolescence have not been shown as effective, with two thirds of young offenders in secure environments re-offending within 12 months. Secure schools, specialist foster care and the ‘child first’ approach aim to provide an environment in which children and adolescents feel secure, whilst promoting a positive learning environment. This may enhance confidence that the young offender can break the cycle of offending.

Keywords

youth justiceyoung offendersdevelopmental theorieschild firstdelinquency
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Forensic Psychology , pp. 35 - 53
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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