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                            Library & Multimedia
 Roads Diverge: Long-Term Patterns of Relapse, Recidivism, and Desistance for a Cohort of Drug Involved Offenders
NCJ Number
              250656

Author(s)
          Ronet Bachman;
                        Erin Kerrison;
                        Daniel O'Connell;
                        Raymond Paternoster
Date Published

June 2013
Length
              180 pages
Annotation
              Using a mixed-methods research design, this study followed former drug-involved offenders for just over 20 years after their release from prison in order to examine the mechanisms and processes of their desistance from  crime and  drug use.
Abstract
              Interviews with the participants (n=304) found that the vast majority of offenders who had successfully desisted from both crime and drug use first transformed their self-consciousness from an "offender identity" into a "non-offender working identity." This was the case for both racial and gender groups interviewed. This cognitive change was typically motivated by respondents' realization that if they did not change their criminal and drug-using behaviors, they would likely have an early death from drug effects or their criminal lifestyle. In order to reinforce their new "non-offender" identity, study participants used various tools, including increased interaction with law-abiding friends and staying away from locations that triggered their drug use or criminal behavior. Although treatment usually did not result in immediate desistance from drug use and criminal behavior for most involved in this study, the majority who desisted from drug use and crime relied on behavioral tools learned in treatment in order to sustain desistance from drug use and crime. Many cited religion as an important resource for maintaining their desistance from drug use and crime. Contrary to life-course theory, romantic partnerships and parenthood were not prominent factors in desistance from drug use and crime; however, rekindling relationships with adult children or grandchildren was an important factor for many respondents. Although being employed was not a primary factor in desistence from crime and drug use, the maintenance of a "non-offender" identity was more difficult when meaningful employment was not a central feature of a "non-offender" identity.
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2008-IJ-CX-0017


  
  
        
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        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Research (Applied/Empirical)
                                Report (Study/Research)
                                Report (Grant Sponsored)


  
  
        
  Award
        ROADS DIVERGE: LONG-TERM PATTERNS OF RELAPSE, RECIDIVISM AND DESISTANCE FOR A RE-ENTRY COHORT
    
  
  
Date Published: June 1, 2013
    
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Related Datasets
        
                      https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR34142.v1
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