Victimization and Criminal Behavior in Adolescence and Adulthood

Abstract

The current paper, and the special journal issue that it introduces, focuses on one of the most enduring debates in criminology: whether individuals who break the law—either as children or adults—can change their behavior with assistance from professionals in the social service or correctional system. A key element of life-course criminology is the notion that “turning points” can be identified throughout offenders' lives that lead them toward—or turn them away from—criminality. The papers in this special issue fill many of the gaps in our knowledge in this important area. The volume includes more traditional research consistent with the “early victimization-later consequences” theme, as well as studies that explore the impact of adult life-course transitions on desistance from crime and victimization.

Keywords:

• life course analysis
• criminology
• desistence