Delinquency and antisocial behaviour among high risk young people in adolescence

This chapter presents an investigation of the patterns of offending and antisocial
behaviour amongst young people from the age of 11-16 years who are categoried as high risk or vulnerable to delinquency and antisocial behaviour. The chapter will draw upon findings from the first five datasweeps of the Belfast Youth Development Study (BYDS), a longitudinal study of the onset and development of adolescent problem behaviour. Through a detailed exploration of the onset and development of delinquency and antisocial behaviour
from the age of 11-16 years it will provide insights for targeting and development of appropriate interventions for school aged high risk young people who do not attend mainstream school in adolescence. The findings will form the empirical base for a discussion of the key issues around appropriate interventions and the development of conclusions in relation to young people who have received comparatively less attention in the delinquency
literature but who are considered more likely to offend during adolescence.