Theories of Desistance

Question 1

Who likened desistance to a zig-zag path rather than a linear procession ?

Answer 1

Glaser (1964)

Shad Maruna

Question 2

Who distinguishes b/w primary and secondary desistance ?

Answer 2

Maruna and Farrall (2004)
Primary: lull or crime-free gap in course of criminal career

Secondary: shifting from behavior of non-offending to assumption of identity as a non-offender (or ‘changed person’)

Question 3

What are Rex’s 4 factors for desistance ?

Answer 3

Rex, Assisted Desistance (1998)

1. reducing impulsivity;
2. strengthening community ties;
3. developing pro-social modelling;
4. perceived legitimacy of sentencing decisions

Question 4

What study showed the importance of the quality of supervisory relationship offenders received in probation ?

Answer 4

Leibrich (1993)
SAMPLE: small (48ppl) in NZealand released in 1987 and not rearrested in 1990.
- Negative interactions w probations officer = feeling ‘processed’.
- Desire to feel as though new identity/values was possible.