Adolescent Criminal Exploitation. Violence, co-offending roles, training and progression through the ranks

This paper considers the exploitation of adolescent co-offenders by adult criminals through both adult and juvenile offender narratives. This UK-based study adopted a qualitative research approach involving 20 young people (aged 14 to 17 years) and 12 adults who had been criminally exploited as adolescents. The research used semi-structured interviews in which participants were asked to describe a criminal act that occurred in the presence of at least one other person who was older. A thematic analysis was undertaken using ATLAS.ti to investigate how the participants viewed their relationships with older co-offenders. The findings were interpreted, adopting a social identity framework. By integrating and comparing the perspectives of young people and adults, the analysis revealed three related themes: offender role, criminal training, and interactions with older offenders. Each dimension illuminates the practice of criminal influence and coercion. They also reveal why some young people are unable to leave a criminal group. Of equal importance are the reasons that participants gave for either continuing their involvement (status, lack of choice, lack of legitimate opportunities, fear) or desistance (increased violence, maturation, fear, new relationships). Future early interventions for young people at risk of criminalization must consider their vulnerabilities to coercion.