This study was conducted to determine the significant factors contributing to youth offending. A wide range of literature was consulted in order to identify risk factors in youth offending and to guide the researcher throughout this research project. A qualitative research design, supported by descriptive and explanatory goals directed the methodology of this research project. Research tools utilised included case studies, in-depth interviews (aided by an interview guide). Research participants included young, coloured, incarcerated male offenders ranging between 16 and 23 years. The data was interpreted within the criminal event framework; suitable theoretical explanations for youth offending included social bonding and learning. Significant factors that were found to play a role in youth offending were presented under the main themes of family, school and youths environment/community. / Criminology / M.A. (Crimonology)

This thesis, whilst taking a predominantly criminological topic as its subject matter, incorporates other sociological and social psychological debates around youth transitions, power relations, youth culture and capital. In so doing, this thesis attempts to come to terms with the wider problems faced by young people who become embroiled in offending. It argues that the transition to 'adulthood' is heavily implicated in the fact that most offending occurs in late childhood and youth. This study asked 20 young women and 20 young men about why they started and stopped offending and what influenced or inhibited them in that behaviour as they grew older. What these young people suggested was that their decision to offend - or not offend - was very much based on their need to feel included in their social world, through friendships in childhood and through wider commitments in adulthood. The process of moving through the transitional arrangements from childhood, through youth, to adulthood seems to run parallel with the process of starting offending, maintaining such behaviour over a period of time and eventually stopping offending in favour of greater conventionality and stability. This analysis of the parallel paths between the process of youth transitions and the process of offending draws on the theoretical concepts of Pierre Bourdieu, in particular that of capital accumulation. But it goes further in suggesting the need to take into account not only capital accumulation but also capital expenditure and power imbalances - power imbalances based not only on class distinctions, as Bourdieu suggests, but also on age and status.

During a period of increased independence from parents, youth turn to peers for support, and consequently become more vulnerable to peer pressure (Steinberg & Silverberg, 1986). During middle adolescence, vulnerability to peer influence begins to decline (Steinberg & Monahan, 2007). Empirical research has documented this trend in vulnerability to peer pressure across adolescence, but less attention has been afforded to the age-related changes in similarity. To address this, age-related changes in peer similarity in delinquency across the adolescent years were examinded using intraclass correlations. Moderating variables, including gender, reciprocity, and closeness, and control variables, including friendship stability and romantic partner status, were examined. Results indicated an increase in friend similarity in delinquency from 5th to 7th grade and a decrease in similarity from 7th to 9th grade. Implications of this study are discussed in terms of contribution to the field and implementation of the findings. / by Ashley D. Richmond. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2012. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2012. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

This study was conducted to determine the significant factors contributing to youth offending. A wide range of literature was consulted in order to identify risk factors in youth offending and to guide the researcher throughout this research project. A qualitative research design, supported by descriptive and explanatory goals directed the methodology of this research project. Research tools utilised included case studies, in-depth interviews (aided by an interview guide). Research participants included young, coloured, incarcerated male offenders ranging between 16 and 23 years. The data was interpreted within the criminal event framework; suitable theoretical explanations for youth offending included social bonding and learning. Significant factors that were found to play a role in youth offending were presented under the main themes of family, school and youths environment/community. / Criminology and Security Science / M.A. (Crimonology)

This study presents a multivariate analysis of the basic propositions of social bonding theory, including the refinement of some of the basic indicators and the addition of many relevant variables as indicated by recent research. A synthesized model is proposed and six general propositions are derived: (a) attachment to significant others, commitment to conventional institutions, belief in conventional values, and involvement in conventional activities will vary positively with each other; (b) fear of sanctions is positively related to commitment to conventional institutions and attachments to significant others; (c) attachment to significant others, commitment to conventional institutions, belief in conventional values, involvement in conventional activities and fear of sanctions will be inversely related to participation in delinquent activity; (d) participation in delinquent activity is inversely related to the conventionality of .significant others; (e) females will experience greater levels of affective attachments, and conventional commitments, involvements, and beliefs than will males and also will be less involved in delinquent behavior than males; and (f) rural respondents will experience higher levels of conventional belief than urban respondents and will be less involved in delinquent behavior than urban respondents. The model was tested using primary data on 733 middle and high school students from public schools in Richmond, Virginia and in Franklin County, Virginia. Nearly all proposed relationships are supported; significant exceptions are discussed. The importance of the synthesized bonding model for integrated theories of delinquency is discussed. / Ph. D.

by Mok Yui Ting. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 157-171). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter Chapter 1 --- The Research Problem --- p.10 / Chapter 1.1 --- Introduction --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2 --- Background of the Study --- p.11 / Chapter 1.3 --- Research Objectives p --- p.15 / Chapter 1.4 --- Organization of the Thesis --- p.17 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Literature Review --- p.19 / Chapter 2.1 --- Traditional Strain Theories and General Strain Theory --- p.19 / Chapter 2.2 --- Other Important Theories for Explaining Adolescent Deviant Behavior --- p.28 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Hirschi´ةs Social Bonding Theory (1969) --- p.28 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Sutherland and Cressey's Differential Association Theory (1978) --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Becker´ةs Labeling Theory (1963) --- p.36 / Chapter 2.3 --- Adolescent Delinquency Studies in Hong Kong --- p.40 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Analytical Framework --- p.47 / Chapter 3.1 --- General Strain Theory --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2 --- Social Bonding Theory --- p.57 / Chapter 3.3 --- Differential Association Theory --- p.64 / Chapter 3.4 --- Labeling Theory --- p.69 / Chapter 3.5 --- The Hypotheses --- p.74 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Methodology --- p.75 / Chapter 4.1 --- Data and Sample --- p.75 / Chapter 4.2 --- Measurements of Variables --- p.81 / Chapter 4.3 --- Method of Data Analysis --- p.107 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Results --- p.109 / Chapter 5.1 --- Bivariate Analysis --- p.109 / Chapter 5.2 --- Multiple Regression Analysis --- p.116 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Multiple Regression of Adolescent Deviant Behavior on Strain Variables --- p.117 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- "Multiple Regression of Adolescent Deviant Behavior on Strain, Social Bonding, Differential Association and Labeling Variables" --- p.119 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Reduced Model --- p.122 / Chapter 5.3 --- Verification of Hypotheses --- p.128 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Summary and Discussion --- p.129 / Chapter 6.1 --- The Study --- p.129 / Chapter 6.2 --- Summary of Findings --- p.131 / Chapter 6.2.1 --- Relevance of the Theories on Adolescent Deviant Behavior in Hong Kong --- p.132 / Chapter 6.2.2 --- Social Correlates of Adolescent Deviant Behavior in Hong Kong --- p.145 / Chapter 6.3 --- Theoretical Implications --- p.147 / Chapter 6.4 --- Practical Implications --- p.151 / Chapter 6.5 --- Limitations and Suggestions for Future Research --- p.152 / Bibliography --- p.157

The link between child welfare and juvenile justice is well established, with over forty years of research that focuses on the increased risk of delinquency associated with child maltreatment. However, with over 700,000 children in the United States being victims of abuse and/or neglect in 2010 (DHHS, 2011), it is important to continue investigating this connection. Few studies are able to identify the same youth in both systems, therefore this study provides the unique opportunity using child welfare and juvenile justice administrative data from Oregon, to compare juvenile offenders that have been in the child welfare system, otherwise known as "Crossover" youth, to Non-Crossover juvenile offenders. The study attempted to examine if Crossover youth differ in terms of demographics, as well as if they committed offenses with higher severity scores than Non-Crossover youth. It also investigated whether an individual's status as a child welfare youth impact processing decisions in the juvenile justice system. Results indicate that Crossover youth have a higher percentage of females, African Americans, and are significantly younger. Crossover youth also have higher severity scores than non-crossover youth, and have a higher percentage of more intense adjudicated delinquent sanctions. Limitations of these findings and suggestions for further research are discussed.

Available literature reveals that most prevalently delinquency has been viewed from a modernist perspective. However, as cybernetic epistemology increased its stronghold within the field of psychology, explanations became increasingly systemic in nature. In this study a literature review is presented which articulates these approaches. This critique is followed by a comprehensive consideration of delinquency from a social constructionist stance as an alternative to modernist and early cybernetic perspectives. Examples are provided as to possible ways in which the label "delinquency" evolves within an interpersonal context, as well as the ways in which the meaning engendered is linked to broader cultural discourses. It has been acknowledged that this does not constitute the social constructionist perspective on delinquency, but represents some challenging ideas about how delinquency is co-created between people. Implications for therapy and research are also discussed. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

Available literature reveals that most prevalently delinquency has been viewed from a modernist perspective. However, as cybernetic epistemology increased its stronghold within the field of psychology, explanations became increasingly systemic in nature. In this study a literature review is presented which articulates these approaches. This critique is followed by a comprehensive consideration of delinquency from a social constructionist stance as an alternative to modernist and early cybernetic perspectives. Examples are provided as to possible ways in which the label "delinquency" evolves within an interpersonal context, as well as the ways in which the meaning engendered is linked to broader cultural discourses. It has been acknowledged that this does not constitute the social constructionist perspective on delinquency, but represents some challenging ideas about how delinquency is co-created between people. Implications for therapy and research are also discussed. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

A adolescência implica uma operação subjetiva que convoca o adolescente a assumir novas posições, em virtude das várias transformações que vivencia. Em contato direto com o significante da falta no Outro, o adolescente é intimado a reposicionar-se frente ao Outro e à castração. O Nome-do-Pai é colocado em cheque e a relação do adolescente com a Lei é marcada por conflitos e ambivalências. Revalidar o significante Nome-do-Pai constitui questão central. O crescente envolvimento de adolescentes com infrações tem dado destaque a esta temática, convocando-nos a pesquisar sobre esta questão. Nosso objetivo geral foi investigar a relação entre a posição de adolescentes infratores e não infratores diante da Lei e a operação de revalidação do Nome-do-Pai. Especificamente, buscamos analisar o significado de ser adolescente nos dias atuais, investigar a posição desses adolescentes diante da família e das autoridades constituídas, investigar concepções de adolescentes a respeito da Lei e da infração e analisar as posições de adolescentes infratores e não infratores. Através da entrevista semidiretiva com questões concernentes à adolescência, à lei e à infração cometida por adolescentes, ouvimos adolescentes infratores e não infratores. As entrevistas com adolescentes infratores foram realizadas em Casas de Semiliberdade da cidade do Recife, na FUNASE, com adolescentes que cumpriam medida socioeducativa. Os adolescentes não infratores foram estudantes de escolas da rede pública da cidade do Recife, onde as entrevistas foram realizadas. Guiada por fundamentos psicanalíticos, nossa escuta buscou privilegiar aspectos que poderiam ser indicativos de formações do inconsciente: equívocos, tropeços, contradições, pausas, atentando para os deslizamentos no discurso. Os resultados das análises nos indicam que a adolescência traz consigo descobertas e conquistas, mas também a contestação ao Outro, sendo isso muito mais intenso nos adolescentes infratores do que nos não infratores. Apontaram para a vulnerabilidade do adolescente em se envolver com a infração, sobretudo pela importância que tem o grupo na operação que vivenciam. A posição deles diante da família e das autoridades sugeriu que, no caso de adolescentes não infratores, a contestação ao Outro não ultrapassa a fronteira da transgressão característica da operação adolescente, pois há um Outro que lhe dá suporte, ao contrário do que ocorre com os infratores. Percebemos posicionamentos diferentes diante da Lei: no caso dos adolescentes não infratores, há o encontro com um Outro que se coloca como lugar de endereçamento, possibilitando-lhes revalidar o Nome-do-Pai, ainda que, nesse processo, recorram a transgressões, num apelo ao Outro para reafirmar o interdito; no caso de adolescentes infratores, esse encontro não se dá, fazendo obstáculo ao processo de revalidação, conduzindo-os ao caminho da infração. Os resultados indicam que a posição do adolescente diante da Lei depende da revalidação do Nome-do-Pai e tem como condição o encontro com um Outro que se sustente como lugar de endereçamento, de alteridade radical e transmissão da Lei. Eles fazem avançar o debate sobre a clínica da adolescência e a relação do adolescente com a Lei e o ato infracional, subsidiando a reflexão de questões que tocam esta temática a fim de viabilizar intervenções que o ajudem nessa travessia.