Family victimization and youth delinquency through the life stories of ex offenders

• In Event: Characteristics of violent offenders

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to explore the connection between victimization and delinquency, through the eyes of ex-offenders. The research material includes life stories interviews with 23 ex-prisoners, recruited from two organizations in the field of re-entry services. The thematic analysis focuses on their experiences of family victimization and delinquency, during childhood and adolescence. The analysis highlights four main themes about the connection between family victimization and delinquency. The themes represent four different types of reaction or of coping to the victimization experienced in the family, which are delinquent in content: (a) The first theme is centered around a sense of symbolic flight from a troubled family situation. (b) The second theme is centered around behaviors of compensation. (c) The third theme is created from descriptions that are centered around the interpretation of the abusive experience as deserving. (d) The fourth theme is built from descriptions that depict delinquency as a reaction to the deprived life conditions.

Authors

• Stelios Nikopoulos, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens

• Elli Anitsi, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens