NCJ Number
238830
Date Published
2011
Length
265 pages
Annotation
This study examined the psychological changes that are associated with long-term criminal desistance from criminal behavior.
Abstract
The study found that long-term criminal desistance by career criminals is often accompanied by an increase in their prosocial impulses, thoughts and feelings that promote well-being in the self and the community. In addition, the study found that the strength of the prosocial impulse results from other psychological events such as thoughts about change, self-reflection, psychological growth, feelings of connectedness to prosocial objects, and ongoing motivation to remain crime-free. This study examined the psychological changes that are associated with long-term criminal desistance from criminal behavior. Data for the study were obtained from in-depth interviews with five offenders (four men and one woman) who had stopped engaging in illegal behavior for at least 3 years after an extensive criminal past. The offenders were asked about their past and present criminal experiences, ideas about transformation, and beliefs about criminal desistance. Analysis of participants' responses indicates that the increase in their prosocial impulses was caused by both psychological changes and behavioral changes. These career criminals were able to successfully change their behavior as a result of the following psychological experiences: thinking about change, developing more sophisticated psychological skills, feeling connected to prosocial objects, and staying motivated to remain crime-free. Implications for future research are discussed. References and appendixes