Why do People Stop offending? Recent Theories on Desistance and Their Value in Practical Approaches to offenders

• Main Author: Mojca Mihelj Plesničar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Law 2016-11-01
• Series: Zbornik Znanstvenih Razprav
• Subjects: desistance; rehabilitation; imprisonment; offenders
• Online Access: http://www.pf.uni-lj.si/media/zzr_2015_mihelj.plesnicar.pdf

Desistance theories, researching the ways how and reasons why people stop offending have developed only recently. The article briefly describe their development in general and then examines four of the more recent influential ones in more detail: Laub and Sampson’s Age-graded theory of social control, the Cognitive transformation theory developed by Giordano et al., Maruna’s Theory of narrative self-change and Wikström’s Situational action theory. These theories are analysed with regard to their applicability to general or specific offending populations. Finally, the sociotherapeutic approach common to the Slovenian system in the past is analysed through the lenses of these theories and conclusions as to the value of general and specific theories and approaches are made.