Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Criminology Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 5 of 5

Full-Text Articles in Criminology

Leaving The Gang: A Review And Thoughts On Future Research, Dena C. Carson, J. Michael Vecchio Oct 2017

Leaving The Gang: A Review And Thoughts On Future Research, Dena C. Carson, J. Michael Vecchio

J. Michael Vecchio

Researchers have examined aspects of gangs and their members for almost a century. This work, however, focuses primarily on youth prior to joining as well as during gang involvement. While comparatively less is known about the leaving processes, work in this area has been increasing in recent years. This chapter will discuss the growing body of research on the processes associated with leaving the gang. Specifically, it will review difficulties associated with defining gang desistance, theoretical perspectives on desistance, variations in motives, methods, and consequences of leaving, barriers to desistance, as well as make recommendations for policy and future research.


Desisting In Prison: Myth And The Council For Unity Model, Kevin Moran Sep 2017

Desisting In Prison: Myth And The Council For Unity Model, Kevin Moran

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation is a qualitative examination of aspects of the desistance process among incarcerated men in both prison and jail. Data collection for this project occurred in and around the correctional version of the Council For Unity program, which is also examined in this write up. The premise of this project is that a minority of men do desist whilst incarcerated and thus the research presented here analyzes how prisoners act towards their attempts to desist from crime in terms of the meaning this process has for them, their interaction with others during this process, and the interpretative progression by …


The Effects Of Employment On Recidivism Among Delinquent Juveniles, Leigh Kassem Aug 2017

The Effects Of Employment On Recidivism Among Delinquent Juveniles, Leigh Kassem

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Current research indicates an association between intense adolescent work (twenty hours or more per week) and delinquent behavior. It has been widely speculated that this relationship is spurious, occurring only as a result of other factors which are common to both offending and intense employment. The current study attempts to fill a gap in the literature by utilizing the Pathways to Desistance dataset to examine the evolution of the relationship between work and self-reported offending in a longitudinal sample of juvenile offenders. Work intensity and consistency, social capital, and expectations for success were analyzed as potential predictors of recidivism or …


Erasing The Mark Of A Criminal Past: Ex-Offenders’ Expectations And Experiences With Record Clearance, Ericka Adams, Elsa Chen, Rosella Chapman Jan 2017

Erasing The Mark Of A Criminal Past: Ex-Offenders’ Expectations And Experiences With Record Clearance, Ericka Adams, Elsa Chen, Rosella Chapman

Faculty Publications

Through the process of record clearance, individuals can have certain minor convictions removed from their criminal records or designated as expunged. This study analyzes data gathered from semi-structured interviews with 40 persons with past criminal convictions to examine the expectations of individuals who seek record clearance and the extent to which completion of the process facilitates efforts to reintegrate into society and desist from crime. The analysis finds that record clearance benefits ex-offenders through external effects, such as the reduction of barriers to employment, and internal processes, such as the facilitation of cognitive transformation and the affirmation of a new …


Targeting The "Absence" In A Desistance Framework : Balancing Risk And Rehabilitation In Mandated Criminal Background Check Employment Decisions, Megan Denver Jan 2017

Targeting The "Absence" In A Desistance Framework : Balancing Risk And Rehabilitation In Mandated Criminal Background Check Employment Decisions, Megan Denver

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Recent research efforts have documented resistance from employers in hiring individuals with criminal records. In response, advocates and policymakers have implemented strategies ranging from grassroots movements that delay criminal record inquiries to federal guidance that directs decision makers to conduct “individualized assessments.” However, it is not clear precisely what information employers actually are (or should be) seeking when they conduct criminal background checks. Furthermore, there may be a catch-22: while employment might promote desistance, applicants may need to demonstrate that they do not pose an undue risk before being able to secure a job or license (Maruna 2009). Since desistance …