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Violence and Network Change: The Influence of Violent Behavior and Co-Offending on Offenders' Centrality in Co-Offending Networks

Year: 2025

Type: conference-paper

Abstract: Research on violent behavior transmission has largely focused on how violent co-offenders shape individual trajectories, overlooking their impact on network positions. This study examines how violent histories, co-offenders' positions, and co-offending interactions affect offenders' centrality over time. Using police data from 2010 to 2022 on n = 1,693 offenders, we conducted multinomial logistic regressions on changes in degree, betweenness, and eigenvector centrality. Offenders committing more violent offenses were more likely to lose importance, while severely violent offenders showed increases in centrality. Co-offending with intermediaries tended to increase importance. These findings highlight how violence and co-offending interactions may shape network positions.

Source: Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University)

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17553261

Authors: Geeraert, Joke, Rocha, Luis, Vandeviver, Christophe

Institution: Ghent University

Language: English

Topic: Crime Patterns and Interventions

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: green

Funder: Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek