Age, Gender, and Structural Inequality

Youth Justice — Week 4. Patterns and institutional influences described in the comprehensive notes.

Race

Public discourse can racialize youth crime, while justice-system data may reflect unequal surveillance and treatment as well as behaviour.

Age

Crime rises through adolescence and peaks in young adulthood; under-12 offending is uncommon and usually minor.

Gender

Boys offend more often and more seriously, but official charging patterns can exaggerate or reshape gender differences.

Victimization

Youth are disproportionately victims of violence, and many offenders have prior victimization histories.

Structure

Poverty, colonialism, racism, child-welfare involvement, unequal education, and institutional practices shape both offending and victimization.