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Juvenile (under 18)

Desistance from Crime: Implications for Research, Policy, and Practice

Why do people stop their involvement in crime? What factors help shape this process? How can policy and practice improve individuals’ chances of ending their criminal behavior?

No single criminal justice agency can promote desistance on its own. Partnerships across state, local, and federal agencies — along with the support of family and community stakeholders — are instrumental in supporting desistance from crime and reducing recidivism.

In NIJ’s new publication Desistance From Crime: Implications for Research, Policy, and Practice, experts explore these and other...