Violent Female Youth Offenders: An Exploration of the Correlates of Violence Motivation, Victim Type and Ethnicity

Abstract

To date, there is a lack of literature focusing on the violence perpetrated by young females. Understanding the backgrounds and violence of female youth offenders can inform prevention and intervention services of their treatment needs. Thus the overall purpose of the current study was to investigate the backgrounds and characteristics of violent female youth offenders. The methodology involved a retrospective file audit of 184 female youth who were referred to the Regional Youth Forensics Service in Auckland. Data was analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The first aim was to compare the demographic and psychosocial backgrounds of violent female youth to a group of female youth with nonviolent offence charges. Significant differences were found in only a few of the variables examined. The second aim was to compare and contrast the backgrounds and offence characteristics of the violent female youth on three dichotomous variables: motivational subtype of violence (instrumental or reactive), victim subtype (family or community), and ethnicity (Māori or Pākehā). Māori ethnicity was associated with increased odds of engaging in instrumental violence, whereas Pākehā ethnicity was associated with increased odds of engaging in reactive violence. Having siblings involved in crime, a history of perpetrating bullying, peer involvement in their offence and community victims (opposed to family victims) were associated with increased likelihood of instrumental violence. Having family victims was associated with increased likelihood of reactive violence. Māori youth were associated with increased likelihood of victimising community members whereas Pākehā youth were associated with increased likelihood of victimising family members. A history of being victim to bullying, and having adult-aged victims were associated with an increased likelihood of victimising family members. The variables school exclusions, gang involvement, peer involvement in the offence and having youth/child aged victims were associated with an increased likelihood of victimising community members. The presence of a substance use disorder, sibling criminality, and being intoxicated at the time of the offence were associated with offending by Māori, whereas anger problems and poor social skills were associated with Pākehā offending. Overall the findings suggest that violent female youth are a heterogeneous population and treatment needs should be considered accordingly.