Victimization as a Correlate of Offending

Juveniles have the highest rate of victimization of any age group. Many are polyvictims, experiencing multiple types of harm both inside and outside the home. Youth victimization is associated with a number of negative outcomes including cognitive, social, psychological, and medical problems, as well as re-victimization and offending. Historically, society ignored this crime, but the advent of X-ray machines and the occurrence of mass shootings changed public perception regarding first familial, and then later nonfamilial youth victimization. This awareness spawned both the growth of research into child and youth victimization, as well as mandatory reporting laws and other policies designed to address these crimes. Using increasingly sophisticated statistical and theoretical models, researchers are attempting to disentangle the overlap between victims and offenders and also to incorporate the broader influence of social contexts including, family, community, neighborhood, and culture in explaining this phenomenon.