Factors that Promote or Impede Desistance for Serious, Violent, and Sexual Offenders

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract

New analytic strategies for discriminating between ‘persisters’ and ‘desisters’ combined with increased availability of longitudinal data have helped promote research concerning the nature, course, and prevalence of desistance. Less attention has been given to empirically examining different theoretical perspectives on desistance, especially when it comes to serious and violent youth offenders and sexual offenders followed prospectively through different stages of adulthood. Three separate papers are presented as part of this panel. The first two present data from a large Canadian study of incarcerated adolescent offenders. In the first study, a rational choice/criminal social capital model of desistance is examined. In the second study, the impact of protective factors on desistance is examined, with specific attention given to experiences of support from the community and treatment while in custody. In the third study, the impact of sexual offending on desistance is examined for a sample of adult sexual offenders. Finally, a discussant will link the three studies to desistance theory and policy, with an emphasis on case management strategies.

Sub Unit

• Area III: Perspectives on Crime and Criminal Behavior / 6: Developmental and Life Course Perspectives

Individual Presentations

• Support in custody as a promoter of desistance - Evan C. McCuish, Simon Fraser University; Patrick Lussier, University of Laval; Raymond Corrado, Simon Fraser University

• Long-term offending trajectories and life circumstances of adult sex offenders - Patrick Lussier, University of Laval; Evan C. McCuish, Simon Fraser University

• Rational choice and criminal social capital as barriers to desistance - Martin Andresen, Simon Fraser University; Olivia Katherine Ha, Simon Fraser University; Evan C. McCuish, Simon Fraser University; Raymond Corrado, Simon Fraser University

Discussant

• Raymond Corrado, Simon Fraser University