4b - discussion cards

Question 1

Social context

Answer 1

• Youth crime is often discussed in terms of age, gender, and race or ethnicity. What roles do they really play
• Moral panic ensues when crime among youth at or below the age of 12, females, and non-whites appears to be increasing
• Media discourse fuels these misconceptions

Question 2

Results of Racialization

Answer 2

• Youth crime is discussed often in terms of race or ethnicity
• Class may be a neglected issue; socio-economic status. lower, middle, upper, super (250k/year)
• Media reports focus typically on gangs based on race or ethnicity
• Youth crime is a socio-political construction reinforced by the media
• Longitudinal and ethnographic research is providing a more holistic perspective; appear to reveal linkages between youth crime and victimization (offenders more likely to be victims — run in similar circles). Allows for better undemanding of youth behaviour.
• The nature of youth crime is shaped by the source of statistical info being examined

Question 3

Race/ethnicity

Answer 3

• Little information is available about race, as it is not regularly tracked in the Canadian criminal justice system
• A requirement of the Criminal Code and the YCJA to consider Aboriginal persons’ circumstances has lead to somewhat better collection status/identity information, but it is still sporadically done across Canada. Section 718.2e of Gladue Decision

Question 4

Youth Gangs

Answer 4

• Research on youth gangs is challenged by varied definitions of ‘gang’ and the subjective assessments of race, ethnicity, etc. in filling out surveys.
• Media sources most often report on racial and ethnic ties to youth gangs
• Research shows gang activity more likely to be multi-ethnic and predominant in disadvantaged communities
• Challenges to research: varied definitions of “gang” and subjective assessments of race/ethnicity

Question 5

Black Youth and crime

Answer 5

• The media has focused on a “Black crime problem” since the early 1980s
• Much of this has been linked to a moral panic. Not so much — consistently a male crime problem

Question 6

Aboriginal Youth and Crime

Answer 6

• Crimes and suicides committed on reserves by youth are disproportionately high relative to society
• Aboriginal youth are overrepresented at all stages of the criminal justice system (policing, courts, corrections)
• This is a complex issue, tied to historic and structural factors facing Aboriginals
• For aboriginal youth who become chronic, frequent, serious offenders, poverty and unstable life/family environments, substance abuse and negative associations become the norm

Question 7

Age and Youth Crime

Answer 7

• Youth under 12 or close to: commit few offences. It is not growing in frequency or severity, despite claims to the contrary
• Youth crime trends: seriousness of offence and likelihood of being charged increases with age of youth offender
• Majority of offences are property-related

Question 8

Result of Youth Crime and Media

Answer 8

• Public, politicians, media, and law enforcers believe all youth should be suspect
• Teens are seen as superpredators, regardless of statistical connections between age and crime

Question 9

Gender and Youth Crime

Answer 9

• Overall, males are more involved in youth crime than females
• Most common for girls: minor theft, minor assault, administrative offences, mischief, drugs
• Most common for boys: minor theft, mischief, drugs, administrative offences, minor assault
• Traditionally, boys have been more violent than girls

Question 10

Youth as Victims of Crime

Answer 10

• The cycle of youth crime can be attributed in part to victimization
• Many youth criminals report sexual assault, incest, physical abuse, psychological problems, and other negative influences
• 18 to 24 year olds have the highest rates of victimization within the adult population. Also likely to be offenders.

Question 11

Age and Sex of victims

Answer 11

• Age and sex are correlated (not causal) as strongly with victimization as they are with offending
• 16 to 24 year olds have the highest rates of victimization
• Overall, males are more likely to be victims than females
• Males: higher rates of robbery and assault; by peer
• Females: higher rates of sexual assault and personal theft; by family/friend

Question 12

Trends

Answer 12

• Historically, the focus of parents was on “street-proofing” children: This is in contrast with the reality that the victim most likely knows offender
• The exception is the Internet; relatively new phenomenon of children meeting people on internet
• Youth more likely to be victimized in a home where an adult has been victimized
• Many youth involved in the youth justice system are or have been involved with child welfare system; cross-over kids

Question 13

Conclusions

Answer 13

• Adults are responsible for more violent crime than youth
• Girls are less involved in “official” crime than boys
• Youth more likely to be victims of crime than adults

Question 14

Consider

Answer 14

Given what we know about linkages between age, sex, socio-economic status, and youth crime, what can we do differently to address the misleading assumptions in the general public about what “causes” youth crime?