What is desistance?
Desistance is the process by which a person moves away from, and eventually completely abstains from, criminal behavior. Desistance is not a one-time event but a gradual journey marked by setbacks, personal growth, and reintegrating into society.
The age-crime curve
Criminologists have long observed the age-crime curve — offending tends to peak in the late teens and early 20s and then decline with age. Put simply, many people “age out” of crime as they take on adult roles and responsibilities or just mature.
Research finds that maturation, and the social bonds that come with it, are powerful drivers of desistance. Interventions that speed or support that maturation process are therefore aligned with how people naturally move toward desistance.
Maturity matters
According to the Bureau of Prisons, roughly half of incarcerated adults are under 40 years old and 1 in 6 are younger than 30. Crime statistics consistently show that the onset of criminality, especially for repeat offenders, occurs during adolescence and early adulthood. Many individuals in prisons and jails were initially incarcerated in early adulthood.
Biology tells us that the brain isn’t fully developed until the mid to late twenties. The prefrontal cortex, a brain region which is vital for decision making, emotional regulation, planning and problem solving, is one of the last parts of the brain to fully develop. Many of the same traits associated with immaturity are predictors of criminality: impulsivity, low self-control, poor emotional regulation, susceptibility to peer pressure, risk-taking and limited empathy. This means many of the people involved in the criminal justice system may still be in a critical period for growth, making opportunities to support skill-building and maturity especially relevant.
Beyond biological factors and age, environmental factors have a major influence on emotional and cognitive development. It’s well established that a person’s environment during critical developmental periods, particularly childhood and adolescence, has a profound influence on both maturity and criminality. Growing up in environments marked by instability, trauma, neglect, or limited social support can delay emotional and social development. When early environments fail to provide structure, safety, or positive role models, individuals may enter adulthood with developmental gaps in the very areas that can help them stay out of trouble.
Understanding these factors highlights the need for desistance-focused interventions that foster personal growth and emotional and cognitive maturing.
Traditional approaches to offender management have revolved around assessing and managing “risk.” While this is important for public safety, research shows that focusing so much on risk can draw attention away from the personal and social processes that help people change.
Just as criminal behavior often overlaps with emotional and cognitive immaturity, the pathways out of criminality share common ground with the process of maturing. Research on desistance and human development both point to similar conclusions:
People change when they…
- build stronger relationships.
- learn to manage their emotions.
- take ownership of their choices.
- begin to see themselves as capable and worthy.
Time in the criminal justice system can serve as a turning point toward personal growth and maturing if people are provided the right support and targeted interventions. Knowing ‘what works’ is one thing — implementing programs that bring about positive change is another.
Programs that address the underlying factors driving criminal behavior and unhealthy choices give people the chance to confront what’s getting in their way and develop the skills they need to navigate those barriers.
The Change Companies offers a wide range of individualized, CBT-based curricula that allow participants to hone the very skills that are associated with personal maturing and desistance. Interactive Journaling® workbooks provide a space for individuals to learn strategies for building positive relationships and practice managing emotions, thinking more rationally and setting meaningful goals.
Tools like these translate evidence-based theory into practical, everyday skills, helping individuals mature while promoting desistance and successful social reintegration.
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It’s never too late to grow
Many people involved in the criminal justice system may have had interruptions in their development, a lack of good support and role models, or personal struggles that led them down an unhealthy path. Luckily, it’s never too late to grow. Most patterns, healthy and unhealthy, are learned over time. Once people begin to address gaps in their skills or understanding, they can make up for lost time and accelerate their maturing process.
Learn more about scalable digital programs that foster emotional and cognitive development and desistance here.
