NCJ Number
205080
Editor(s)
Shadd Maruna,
Russ Immarigeon
Date Published
2004
Length
319 pages
Annotation
The 11 essays of this volume contribute to the premise that reintegration policy can be improved by learning from success and modeling the re-entry process on what is known about crime desistance.
Abstract
Chapters in the first part of the book focus on desistance theory and reintegration practice. One chapter explains the value of informal social control as a major factor in a successful re-entry and in crime desistance. It discusses the implications of research on informal social control for restorative justice practice in the reintegration process. Another chapter in this section presents findings from a longitudinal study of crime desistance that tested the relationship between probation practices and the social capital of ex-offenders. The two chapters of the second section of the book address methodological considerations, specifically empirical concerns involved in linking basic and applied reintegration research. One chapter argues that although these two areas of research have developed independently, desistance research and program-outcome evaluation research share much common ground. It recommends combining the methodological innovations of both fields to allow for a powerful framework in which to understand and model the reintegration process. The second chapter touts the importance of longitudinal research in understanding pathways to crime desistance, since criminal careers are characterized by intermittent periods of low or no criminal behavior followed by a resumption of offending. The three chapters in the third part of the book, entitled, "Applied Research on Desistance," consider some of the methodological challenges inherent in studying desistance, with attention to the policy implications of this relatively new field of research. Issues addressed in the chapters are the crime-desistance value of military service, the dynamics of recidivism for a sample of ex-inmates over a period of 2 years after release, and gender differences in the experience and process of desistance from crime. The concluding section of the book, "Desistance-focused Reintegration Research," presents three studies of ex-offenders that are theoretically informed and grounded in an understanding of crime desistance. One study of the experiences of released inmates in Iowa notes the radical financial and social deficits of these inmates and the importance of prerelease and postrelease efforts to reduce the obstacles that these deficits pose to successful reintegration and crime desistance. Another chapter profiles the components and implementation of the U.S. justice Department's pilot program entitled, "The Re-entry Partnership Initiative," through which selected local jurisdictions are guided in the collaboration of criminal justice and community resources as they provide a socioeconomic environment for offenders and ex-offenders in the community that is conducive to crime desistance. The concluding chapter emphasizes the importance of ex-offenders making contributions to the community that forge a positive civic identity. This must be achieved, however, within the legal limitations and the social stigma imposed on ex-offenders that impede a full expression of citizenship and community participation. Chapter references, figures, and tables, and a subject index