ABSTRACT
Traditionally, criminological research has concentrated on attempting to understand the aetiology of offending, with a view to identifying appropriate measures aimed at preventing young people from becoming involved in crime. However, offending is, essentially, an age-related phenomenon and most young people eventually ‘grow out of crime’ (Rutherford 1986). An enhanced understanding of the processes that accompany or promote the cessation of offending may therefore inform the development of more effective responses to young people who have already begun to offend. Recent research (e.g. Shover 1985; Burnett 1992; Hubert and Hundleby 1993; Leibrich 1993; Graham and Bowling 1995; Rex 1999; Maruna 2001) has consequently focused upon uncovering the circumstances and processes involved in desistance from crime.
