Youth Offending in Transition: The Search for Social Recognition

Taking a new approach to youth crime, this book argues that the transition from childhood to adulthood can be an isolating and disempowering experience for young people. Children and young people are inherently vulnerable because of their age and status – they are a minority group, with the potential for being exploited, discriminated against, dominated and disrespected by adults. Youth Offending in Transition explores how their treatment by adult society may lead young people to resort to crime as a means of gaining respect from their peers. Using concepts of capital and the narratives of young offenders themselves, this book is based on original research into the reasons why young people start and stop offending. It discusses the following topics: criminal theory and the significance of youth transitions to the ‘age-crime curve’ social identity and reputation amongst young people social inequalities and their influence on youth transitions the criminalization and discrimination of young people by adults the importance of social recognition in reducing offending.

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction 2. Offending and Desistance in Theory 3. Power and Powerlessness in Transition 4. Starting Offending 5. Coming to Terms with Offending 6. The Process of Desistance 7. In Search of Social Recognition 8. Conclusions Appendix 1: Methodology Appendix 2: Characteristics of the Sample References

Review :
Colin Webster, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, University of Teesside: "new material in the field of criminology and youth studies. This author has a proven record of publishing in this field. … offers new and innovative ways of understanding criminal careers … fills an important gap. I would buy this book. Useful for second and final year undergraduate and postgraduate studies … an essential purchase for criminological theory – we would purchase in multiple copies for the library." Mark Simpson, Subject Group Leader, University of Teesside: "an interesting proposal and I am sure it will be welcomed by specialists, teachers, students and practitioners. There is much to welcome in this text, the author may, however, need to consider the pitch … and reorganising the chapters. Clearly the book will be useful for students studying youth transitions, youth crime and potentially youth justice." Kevin Haines, Lecturer in Criminology, University of Wales Swansea: "the premise of the research is interesting and innovative. The book could be very useful for its literature review in terms of teaching/learning. The synthesis offered is potentially innovative and new. The book will really be of most use if it is rooted in the experience/reality of the lives and social context of those involved in the research."