Taking a new approach to youth crime, this book argues 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 from their peers.

Using concepts of capital and the narratives of young offenders themselves, this book is based on original research into 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.

1. Introduction 2. Offending and Desistance in Theory 3. Power and Powerlessness in Transition 4. Starting Offending 5. Coming to Terms with Offending 6. The Process of Desistance 7. In Search of Social Recognition 8. Conclusions Appendix 1: Methodology Appendix 2: Characteristics of the Sample References