Violent Victimization Histories and the Victim-Offender Overlap among Incarcerated Youth: Toward Trauma-Informed Juvenile Justice

This study examines the victim-offender overlap among incarcerated youth in Taiwan’s juvenile correctional facilities, focusing on how violent victimization histories shape their experiences of misconduct and victimization during confinement. Drawing on a national census of youth in custody, multinomial logistic regression was employed to compare victim-offenders with victims-only, offenders-only, and uninvolved youth. Results indicate that violent victimization prior to incarceration is the most consistent factor distinguishing victim-offenders from all other groups. Additional differentiating factors include age, poverty, low self-control, street gang involvement, institutional stressors, and in-facility peer and family support. These findings highlight the need for trauma-informed interventions and early prevention to mitigate cycles of harm and promote rehabilitation.