Policy and Practice Implications of Findings to Date From the Pathways to Desistance Study

• In Event: Examination of Developmental Life Course: Implications of Longitudinal Research for Juvenile Justice Policy and Practice

Abstract

The Pathways to Desistance study followed more than 1,300 youth from two metropolitan areas who committed serious juvenile offenses for 7 years after their conviction, from approximately ages 16 to 23. Comprehensive interviews were conducted and official records were collected. Several findings with implications for policy or practice have emerged from the numerous analyses that have been done with these data sets. First, there is considerable change and variability in these adolescents, with most of them engaging in less offending and committing less serious offenses. There is no relation between the presenting offense as a juvenile and the subsequent pattern of offending. This finding highlights the importance of addressing risk/need factors and the ineffectiveness of offense-based dispositional systems. Second, these adolescents develop in their psychosocial skills, and slower development of these skills (and related attitudes) is associated with continued offending. There is a pressing need to develop interventions to accelerate this developmental process. Finally, there is a heavy reliance of the juvenile and adult system on institutional care with these adolescents, with little positive effects. Assessment of these young people for community safety risk and the development and monitoring of clear models for community interventions are potentially useful activities.

Author

• Edward P. Mulvey, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine