Youth Offending in Transition - The Search for Social Recognition (Hardcover)

"Youth Offending in Transition: The search for social recognition "Monica Barry Drug-taking, weapon-wielding gangs of youths in hoodies - youth offending is an enduring, albeit misleading, preoccupation of media and government. But how can we better understand the choices and constraints that young offenders really face? This book takes a new approach to youth crime by arguing that the transition from childhood to adulthood can be an isolating and disempowering experience for young people. Children and young people are inherently vulnerable because of their age and status - they are a minority group, with the potential for being exploited, discriminated against, dominated and disrespected by adults. "Youth Offending in Transition "explores how their treatment by adult society may lead young people to resort to crime as a means of gaining respect and kudos from their peers. Using concepts of capital and the narratives of young offenders themselves, this book is based on original researchinto the reasons why young people start and stop offending. It discusses the following topics: criminal theory and the significance of youth transitions to the "age-crime curve" social identity and reputation amongst young people social inequalities and their influence on youth transitions the criminalization and discrimination of young people by adults the importance of social recognition in reducing offending "Youth Offending in Transition "is an invaluable resource for students, academics and professionals working in criminology, youth justice, social policy, youth policy and social work.