Individual, Family and Offence Characteristics of High Risk Childhood Offenders: Comparing Non-offending, One-time Offending and Re-offending Dutch-Moroccan Migrant Children in the Netherlands

Overview

Journal Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health

Publisher Biomed Central

Date 2011 Oct 22

PMID 22014276

Citations 5

Authors

Carmen H Paalman

Lieke van Domburgh

Gonneke Wjm Stevens

Theo Ah Doreleijers

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Childhood offenders are at an increased risk for developing mental health, social and educational problems later in life. An early onset of offending is a strong predictor for future persistent offending. Childhood offenders from ethnic minority groups are a vulnerable at-risk group. However, up until now, no studies have focused on them.

Aims: To investigate which risk factors are associated with (re-)offending of childhood offenders from an ethnic minority.

Method: Dutch-Moroccan boys, who were registered by the police in the year 2006-2007, and their parents as well as a control group (n = 40) were interviewed regarding their individual and family characteristics. Two years later a follow-up analysis of police data was conducted to identify one-time offenders (n = 65) and re-offenders (n = 35).

Results: All groups, including the controls, showed substantial problems. Single parenthood (OR 6.0) and financial problems (OR 3.9) distinguished one-time offenders from controls. Reading problems (OR 3.8), having an older brother (OR 5.5) and a parent having Dutch friends (OR 4.3) distinguished re-offenders from one-time offenders. First offence characteristics were not predictive for re-offending. The control group reported high levels of emotional problems (33.3%). Parents reported not needing help for their children but half of the re-offender's families were known to the Child Welfare Agency, mostly in a juridical framework.

Conclusion: The Moroccan subgroup of childhood offenders has substantial problems that might hamper healthy development. Interventions should focus on reaching these families tailored to their needs and expectations using a multi-system approach.

Citing Articles

A Scoping Review of the Health of African Immigrant and Refugee Children.

Salami B, Fernandez-Sanchez H, Fouche C, Evans C, Sibeko L, Tulli M Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021; 18(7).

PMID: 33800663 PMC: 8038070. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18073514.

Factors associated with psychiatric symptoms and psychiatric disorders in ethnic minority youth.

Adriaanse M, Doreleijers T, van Domburgh L, Veling W Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2016; 25(10):1067-79.

PMID: 26895811 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-016-0829-2.

School-based screening for psychiatric disorders in Moroccan-Dutch youth.

Adriaanse M, van Domburgh L, Zwirs B, Doreleijers T, Veling W Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health. 2015; 9:13.

PMID: 26052343 PMC: 4457079. DOI: 10.1186/s13034-015-0045-8.

Turkish and Moroccan Young Adults in the Netherlands: The Relationship Between Acculturation and Psychological Problems.

Ozbek E, Bongers I, Lobbestael J, van Nieuwenhuizen C J Immigr Minor Health. 2015; 17(6):1687-96.

PMID: 25845438 DOI: 10.1007/s10903-015-0203-3.

The link between ethnicity, social disadvantage and mental health problems in a school-based multiethnic sample of children in The Netherlands.

Adriaanse M, Veling W, Doreleijers T, van Domburgh L Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2014; 23(11):1103-13.

PMID: 24927803 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-014-0564-5.

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