Adolescent female offenders’ subjective experiences of their families’ roles in relation to their delinquency

Family factors have been regarded as central for both general development and delinquency in adolescence. For female delinquency, family factors appear to be particularly important. The aim of the study was to explore young female offenders’ perspectives on their family contexts in relation to their delinquency. Nine female offenders aged 15-21 were interviewed. Data were analysed using consensual qualitative research. Nine core themes concerning the family were identified that included general descriptions of the family and family roles in relation to delinquency. Descriptions of the families were heterogeneous, but in the delinquency-specific themes, common patterns concerning the process of delinquency and relational aspects were identified. Families were described as being involved in the entire process of delinquency. Relational aspects expressed in the delinquency narratives demonstrated attempts for proximity as well as distance. Another relational aspect was delinquency-related transactions between the participants and their families. Participants’ perspectives of the role of their family contexts in relation to delinquency conveyed aspects typical of adolescence, which might be a possible way to understand the role that the family context plays in delinquency