Although just 7.9 per cent of looked after children offend in any one year, this is more than twice the rate of children in the community. This study investigates the characteristics and pathways of looked after children and the risk and protective factors that may reduce the likelihood of offending and promote resilience. It also explores the features of the care and justice systems that may increase/reduce the risk of offending and the criminalisation of looked after children, and the key transitional/turning points that are opportunities for interventions.