patterns and trends in offending (age)

Question 1

peak age of offending

Answer 1

24-25

Question 2

who are more likely to be convicted/caught?

Answer 2

young people

Question 3

McVie - prevalence and frequency

Answer 3

age and prevalence - offending is relatively common amongst youths aged 14-16

age and frequency - amongst offenders, frequency is highest during teenage years

Question 4

reasons why official stats may lack validity for youths

Answer 4

• labelling theory
• hang around in large groups
• visibility of crime
• moral panics
• self report studies skew data

Question 5

profile of tipical victim/criminal

Answer 5

• male
• young
• w/c
• black

Question 6

quote about victimisation and fear

Answer 6

‘Incidence of victimisation in terms of age is disproportionate to the fear of crime’

Question 7

Young - victimisation is not just due to age

Answer 7

• combination of other social factors
• Islington crime survey found that young white females are 29 times more likely to be assulted than those over 45

Question 8

young people

Answer 8

• 1 in 4 children have been a victim of personal charge
• CSEW found condierable underreporting
• young men most likely to be victims of violent crimes such as knife crime

Question 9

Over 45s

Answer 9

A lower crime rate against them then young people but:
- when assulted they are more likelt to sustain injuries
- more likely to have an attack involving severe violence
- attack will have a greater effect on their lives

Question 10

over 60s

Answer 10

• fear crime but less likely to be victims
• media over-reporting of shocking crimes gives a false impression
• their fear is not misplaced as they are vulnerable