The Influence of Substance Use and Dependence on the Process of Desistance from Crime among Serious Offenders

• In Event: The Role of Social Context and Substance Use in Altering Decisions to Offend Across the Life-Course

Abstract

Although research in life course criminology has suggested that substance use may interfere with desistance, the mechanisms underlying this are not well understood. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact that substance use, and dependence, has on the desistance process. Specifically, I examine whether offenders who use and abuse hard substances are less likely to experience turning points, are less impacted by turning points, and if substance use influences the timing at which turning points occur. I do this by analyzing data from the Pathways to Desistance and the National Supported Work Program (NSW) datasets. I predict that illicit drug use and dependence influences the timing of desistance through the interference of experiencing positive life transitions and by moderating their effects on offending trajectories. This study will clarify the link between drug use and crime in the life course criminology literature and contribute to theoretical development by emphasizing the role that drug use has in influencing the timing of desistance from crime.

Author

• Luke Novack, University of Colorado Boulder