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Handbook of the Life Course pp 295–309Cite as

Desistance from Crime over the Life Course

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Part of the book series: Handbooks of Sociology and Social Research ((HSSR))

Abstract

There is no shortage of explanations in the field of criminology for the onset of criminal behavior, which is typically assumed to occur in childhood or early adolescence. What is not known with much certainty is why some offenders stop committing crimes when they do, while others continue over large portions of the life course. What accounts for stability and change in patterns of criminal offending over time? Unfortunately, the longitudinal studies needed to answer this central question are virtually non-existent. Most criminological research consists of cross-sectional “snapshots” or relatively short-term panel studies of offending. Long-term studies that follow the same individuals over time are as rare as they are difficult to carry out.

Portions of this chapter are taken from “Understanding Desistance from Crime” (Crime and Justice, 2001, Volume 28, pp. 1-69, edited by Michael Tonry. Chicago: University of Chicago Press).

Although we seek to paint a fairly broad theoretical picture, our research base is considerably more detailed. For a traditional “review of the literature” on desistance from crime and other problem behavior, see our in-depth treatment in Laub and Sampson (2001).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02138

    Robert J. Sampson

  2. University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, 20742-8235

    John H. Laub

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  1. Robert J. Sampson
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  2. John H. Laub
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota

    Jeylan T. Mortimer

  2. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

    Michael J. Shanahan

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Sampson, R.J., Laub, J.H. (2003). Desistance from Crime over the Life Course. In: Mortimer, J.T., Shanahan, M.J. (eds) Handbook of the Life Course. Handbooks of Sociology and Social Research. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-306-48247-2_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-306-48247-2_14

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