Desistance from crime: Is it different for women and girls?

Traditionally, criminological research has concentrated on attempting to understand the etiology 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; Leibrich, 1993; Hubert & Hundleby, 1993; Graham & Bowling, 1995; Rex, 1999; Maruna, 2001) has consequently focused upon uncovering the circumstances and processes involved in desistance from crime