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Persistent young offenders: A retrospective study

Document Cited in Related
Vincent
AuthorSarah Dubberley
Published date01 September 2006
Date01 September 2006
DOIhttp://doi.org/10.1177/0264550506066856
Subject MatterArticles
Probation Journal
Research &
reports
The Journal of Community and Criminal Justice
Copyright © 2006 NAPO Vol 53(3): 278–284
DOI: 10.1177/0264550506066856
www.napo.org.uk
http://prb.sagepub.com
Persistent young offenders: A retrospective study
This report examines a sample of 100 young people considered to be persistent
young offenders or at risk of becoming persistent offenders. The sample contained
an equal number from both groups: young people who were under supervision
within a Youth Offending Team and subject to a Detention and Training Order;
and young people considered to be a high risk who came under the Youth
Inclusion Programme.
The research commissioned by the Youth Justice Board (YJB) was aimed at
investigating what interventions persistent young offenders received at the outset
of their offending career, and what effects they may have had. The YJB were also
keen to find out how interventions were being implemented with regard to identi-
fied risk factors. The research was carried out using a variety of qualitative and
quantative methods including: examining the databases held by both the Youth
Offending Team and the Youth Inclusion Programme; exploratory work with indi-
vidual written case files; in-depth interviews with some of the young people them-
selves; and interviews with their key workers.
The findings of the report bring together a wide range of issues that need to
be addressed in working with young people who persistently offend. In particular,
the importance of exploring the relationship with individual members of a family,
and examining education, training and employment experiences – especially in
respect of young people who have had negative experiences in relation to truant-
ing, bullying and relationships with teachers. In respect of crime, the history of
offending, levels of offending and motivation to offending were all seen as import-
ant factors to be considered. Lifestyles and leisure were seen to have an influ-
encing effect on offending behaviour – the use of drugs...

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