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: Public health and public safety

Language English

Andrea Donker

Andrea Donker | Professor | Knowledge analysis societal security

Andrea Donker

  • Professor
  • Research group: Public health and public safety