Characteristics of bullies and victims among incarcerated male young offenders

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/JACPR-12-2015-0200
Pages114-123
Date11 April 2016
Published date11 April 2016
AuthorAnne Connell,David P. Farrington,Jane L. Ireland
Subject MatterHealth & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Aggression, conflict & peace
Characteristics of bullies and victims
among incarcerated male young offenders
Anne Connell, David P. Farrington and Jane L. Ireland
Anne Connell is based at
Mental Health Branch,
Correctional Service Canada,
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
David P. Farrington is based at
Institute of Criminology,
University of Cambridge,
Cambridge, UK.
Jane L. Ireland is based at
University of Central
Lancashire, Preston, UK and
Ashworth Research Centre,
Mersey Care NHS Trust,
Liverpool, UK.
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the characteristics of bullies and victims in Canadian
institutions for young offenders. The second aim is to investigate to what extent it is possible to develop risk
scores that can predict who will become a bully or a victim.
Design/methodology/approach In total, 185male y oungoffenders aged 16-19 in nine Ontario facilities were
individually interviewed about their bullying and victimization, and two standardized inventories were completed.
Findings Compared with non-bullies, bullies had spent longer in their present facility, had been bullies in a
previous facility, had more previous custodial sentences, had been suspended or expelled at school, and
expressed aggressive attitudes. Compared with non-victims, victims were socially isolated in custody, had
failed a grade in school, had been committed to a psychiatric hospital, had been victims in a previous facility,
had fewer previous custodial sentences, and were less likely to express aggressive attitudes.
Practical implications Risk/needs assessment instruments should be developed to identify likely bullies
and victims and guide interventions to prevent bullying in young offender institutions.
Originality/value This paper shows that bullies and victims can be accurately identified based on risk
factors including aggressive attitudes.
Keywords Canada, Bullying, Victimization, Young offenders, Aggressive attitudes, Risk scores
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Although there has been a substantial amount of research investigating bullying among
schoolchildren (see, e.g. Farrington, 1993), bullying in offender populations was virtually ignored
until the 1990s. The main aim of this paper is to investigate the characteristics of bullies and
victims in Canadian institutions for young offenders. The second aim is to develop risk scores
that can predict who will become a bully or a victim.
The most directly relevant previous research was carried out by Beck (1994) and Power et al.
(1997). In Becks research, anonymous self-report questionnaires were completed by over 300
English young offenders. Generally, offenders with little prison experience tended to be
victimized. In the research of Power and colleagues, questionnaires were completed by over 700
male inmates (aged 16-21) of Scottish young offender institutions. They found that bullies tended
to have spent a greater total time in prison than victims. Inmates thought that the following
factors contributed to being a bully: knowing a lot of inmates, aggressive behaviour, type of
offence, large build, and long criminal record. Inmates thought that the following factors
contributed to being a victim: type of offence (especially a sex offence), being a first offender,
being odd-looking, knowing few inmates, and unusual behaviour.
Shields and Simourd (1991) investigated predatory relationships among youths incarcerated in a
Canadian secure custody young offender unit. Although this study was not specifically
Received 10 December 2015
Accepted 16 December 2015
PAGE114
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JOURNAL OF AGGRESSION, CONFLICTAND PEACE RESEARCH
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VOL. 8 NO. 2 2016, pp.114-123, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 1759-6599 DOI 10.1108/JACPR-12-2015-0200

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