Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-2000

Publication Title

Canadian Journal of Criminology

Abstract

This article discusses the association between adolescent violent victimization and offending. A key issue in understanding both criminal offending and victimization concerns victim-offender relationships. Research on crime, particularly violent offenses, requires examining the interpersonal relationships which exist among victims and offenders. Nevertheless, those studies which disaggregate crime rates by victim-offender relationships have essentially confined their analyses to adults. This coincides with a more general trend in criminological research on adolescents to confine analyses to offending behavior. Consequently, there is a dearth research on adolescents and youth victims, particularly with respect to the individuals most likely to offend against them. Within the last decade researchers have made a concerted effort to offset this previous neglect of adolescent victimization. That is, that those adolescents who are at greatest risk of being victimized are individuals who engage in delinquent activities themselves, and, consequently, that adolescent victims and offenders cannot be classified solely in terms of membership. Although their specific explanations vary, a number of criminological theories may be interpreted as predicting an overlap in victim-offender populations, including routine activities and the subculture of violence theory.

Version

Postprint

Volume

42

Issue

4

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