The lifestyles of youth and their peers

Abstract

Most children commit their first offence when they are 12, 13 or 14 years old (see Chap. 3). This is the adolescencet period where children seek autonomy and identity and are increasingly expected to make their own decisions and take more responsibility. Their need for independence means that parents become less important, while school and especially friends become more important. Therefore in this chapter we focus on the role of friends and their influence on the offending behaviour of adolescents.