Bulletin 3: Explanations for Offending

Authors Andrea Donker , David Petechuk , Mauri Matsuda , Ann Masten , Peggy Giordano , Erik Bulten , Christopher Uggen , Terence Thornberry
Publication date 2013
Type Report

Summary

The transition from adolescence to adulthood also has been described as a window of opportunity or vulnerability when developmental and contextual changes converge to support positive turnarounds and redirections (Masten, Long, Kuo, McCormick, & Desjardins, 2009; Masten, Obradović, & Burt, 2006). The transition years also are a criminological crossroads, as major changes in criminal careers often occur at these ages as well. For some who began their criminal careers during adolescence, offending continues and escalates; for others involvement in crime wanes; and yet others only begin serious involvement in crime at these ages. There are distinctive patterns of offending that emerge during the transition from adolescence to adulthood. One shows a rise of offending in adolescence and the persistence of high crime rates into adulthood; a second reflects the overall age-crime curve pattern of increasing offending in adolescence followed by decreases during the transition years; and the third group shows a late onset of offending relative to the age-crime curve. Developmental theories of offending ought to be able to explain these markedly different trajectories

On this publication contributed

  • Andrea Donker | Professor | Knowledge analysis societal security
    Andrea Donker
    • Professor
    • Research group: Knowledge Analysis Societal Security

Language English

Andrea Donker

Andrea Donker | Professor | Knowledge analysis societal security

Andrea Donker

  • Professor
  • Research group: Knowledge Analysis Societal Security