Crime instigation in juvenile narratives of co-offending with older people. Training, self-perceptions and vulnerabilities

Aim: This paper explores the roles of younger co-offenders in crime narratives. We consider how younger crime instigators can display vulnerabilities on account of older offender training and regarding adolescent self-perceptions. Research design: The sample consisted of 10 adults and 6 adolescent males reflecting on their past experiences of co-offending with older criminals. The research used semi-structured interviews in which participants was asked to describe a criminal act that occurred in the presence of at least one other person who was older. Using a social identity framework, a thematic analysis was undertaken to investigate the participant’s point of view. We chose an interpretative approach to reconstruct the “implicit theories” of the participants, which can emerge through semi-structured interviewing. The coding and analysis were carried out by two researchers using ATLAS.ti, but throughout the coding process there was continuous feedback from the whole research team (internal coding). Theme saturation point reached after 16 semi-structured interviews. Key findings: Although offending with someone who is older and more experienced is associated with criminal training and child criminal exploitation, some adult and adolescent interviewees self-identified as crime instigators with older co-offenders. A detailed analysis of their offending narratives revealed family influence, previous criminal training, group affiliation, and thrill seeking, could influence criminal self-perceptions. This in turn could lead to adolescents instigating crimes for financial reward and social/group status. Implications for practice: Adolescent persistent offenders and instigators present a complex history of trauma, criminal schooling, and influence by older associates. Although recognised regarding drug selling and gang membership, the same processes can be found for other acquisitive criminal behaviors. If offending programs for adolescent crime instigators are to be effective, they need to take account of the vulnerabilities that young people present.