Victim-Offender Overlap

Victim-Offender Overlap refers to the observed pattern that individuals involved in committing crimes are often later victims of similar offenses, and vice versa. This means that the roles of offender and victim can overlap within certain contexts, such as in violent or street-based crimes. It highlights the cyclical nature of some criminal activities, where factors like environment, social circumstances, or repeated behaviors contribute to a person's dual roles. Understanding this overlap helps in designing more effective crime prevention and intervention strategies by addressing the root causes that lead individuals to both commit and experience crimes.