Desistance from Crime: Past to Present
Publication Title
Handbook on Crime and Deviance
Document Type
Book Chapter - Open Access
Department or Program
Sociology
Publication Date
8-29-2019
Keywords
Desistance, Crime, Criminology, Longitudinal Policy
Abstract
This chapter surveys the field of desistance from crime. Beginning with an historical overview, we trace criminological work that has studied the relationship between age and crime, bringing us up to the present landscape of desistance research. We then present critical insights from recent longitudinal studies of desistance, highlighting how the desistance process varies for different types of crimes. The chapter then delineates major theories of desistance, presenting internal and external/social approaches. We conclude with a discussion of theoretical and research challenges and policy implications of desistance research.
Recommended Citation
Rocque, M, & Slivken, L. (2019). Desistance from crime: Past to present. In Krohn, MD, Hall, GP, Lizotte, AJ, & Hendrix, N. (Eds.). Handbook on crime and deviance, 2nd ed. (Chapter 19, pp. 377-394). New York: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20779-3