Dangers, Diversions, and Decisions: The Process of Criminal Desistance Among Formerly Incarcerated Young Men

International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology
Diane Terry, Laura S Abrams

Abstract

Young adult men (ages 18-24) who exit the juvenile justice system are at high risk for repeat offending. However, little is known qualitatively about the strategies that they use to navigate criminal influences, crime temptations, and the possibility of getting "caught." To address this gap, the authors used narrative methods involving 30 in-depth qualitative interviews with 15 formerly incarcerated young men between the ages of 19 and 24. Coding and memoing were used to identify major themes and data patterns. Results indicated two distinct groups; one group engaged in a series of micro-level decision-making processes to navigate challenges in their everyday living environments, which helped to facilitate their gradual abstinence from crime. The second group was equally tested by contextual challenges, but they made decisions to minimize their criminal involvement to avoid the risk of repeat incarceration, which negatively influenced their desistance patterns. The results lend themselves to better understanding how decision making, internal motivation, and external factors can influence the desistance processes of transition-age urban young men.

References

Jan 18, 2007·New Directions for Youth Development·Nicole Zarrett, Jacquelynne Eccles
Jul 2, 2008·Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice·Michael Massoglia, Christopher Uggen
Nov 11, 2009·Developmental Psychology·Kathryn C MonahanEdward P Mulvey
Jul 1, 2004·Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice·Edward P MulveySandra H Losoya
Apr 7, 2010·The Future of Children·Frank F Furstenberg
Apr 15, 2010·Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology : the Official Journal for the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, American Psychological Association, Division 53·Nikeea Copeland-LinderNicholas S Ialongo
Jan 11, 2011·Journal of Adolescence·Jeremy Mennis, Philip Harris
Jul 28, 2011·International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology·Laura S Abrams

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Citations

Nov 3, 2017·International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology·Matthew L Mizel, Laura S Abrams
May 13, 2020·Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development·Laura Wray-Lake, Laura S Abrams

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