ABSTRACT
Since this time, the examination of desistance as an event (Blumstein et al. 1986) or process (Fagan 1989; Laub et al. 1998; Maruna 2001, 2007; Kurlychek et al. 2012) has become more viable with access to longitudinal data. Researchers are now able to view offending behavior beyond the adolescent years and into middle, and even late, adulthood (Wolfgang et al. 1987; Sampson and Laub 1993). However, as this line of inquiry is still in its infancy, there is abundant room for growth. In particular, we propose that researchers need to develop more thorough theoretical explanations for the desistance process, including explanations of how and why desistance starts, and why desistance persists for some individuals while others may suddenly return to crime.
