Adolescent Violence Towards Parents: A Case of Specialisation?

Abstract

Adolescent violence towards parents (AVTP) is a form of family violence that tests family relationships and the role of parents and can have lasting impacts on all members of families. This study aimed to explore typologies of AVTP offenders based on their criminal justice system involvement, as well as explore differences between groups of AVTP based on their offending. Data were collated by the South Australian Office of Crime, Statistics and Research (OCSAR) in 2017 and included young people who had been apprehended by the South Australian Police between 2008 and 2012 for violence against a parent or step parent. There were a total of 305 young people included in the study, ranging in age from 10 to 17 years. The study found that there were three different groups of AVTP offenders: AVTP offenders, AVTP non-violent offenders who have committed other non-violent crimes and AVTP violent offender who have committed other violent crimes outside of their AVTP offence. Findings suggested that an AVTP offence in isolation is a rarity, and most AVTP offenders commit other non-violent or violent offending. The study concluded that AVTP may be a function of general anti-sociality and occur within the context of a pattern of violent or deviant behaviour, as opposed to a specialist, targeted, isolated incidence of violence.