Criminal Spin, Self-Control, and Desistance From Crime Among Juvenile Delinquents: Determinism Versus Free Will in a Qualitative Perspective

Ofer Zemel; Tomer Einat; Natti Ronel

doi:10.1177/0306624x18781208

Criminal Spin, Self-Control, and Desistance From Crime Among Juvenile Delinquents: Determinism Versus Free Will in a Qualitative Perspective

Ofer Zemel
, Tomer Einat
, Natti Ronel

Department of Criminology

University of Haifa

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

The current research is a qualitative examination of the relations between self-control and deterministic/non-deterministic perceptions of life events and the drifts into or desistance from a criminal spin among juvenile delinquents. Based on in-depth semi-structured interviews with 21 adolescents (11 active delinquents and 10 desisters), we found that both the intensification of criminal behavior and the desistance from criminal activity are gradual and connected to the reduction or acquisition, respectively, of self-control and the offenders’ belief in their self-control. Criminal behavior and self-control were found to be associated with deterministic or non-deterministic perceptions of life events: the former combined with low self-control are associated with a delinquent lifestyle; the latter combined with high self-control promote the likelihood that young offenders will modify their behavior and desist from criminal behavior. The study may provide better understanding of the role of the criminal spin in the engagement or desistance from criminal behavior.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	4739-4757
Number of pages	19
Journal	International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology
Volume	62
Issue number	15
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624x18781208
State	Published - 1 Nov 2018

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2018.

Funding

The study was approved by the Israeli Adult Probation Service, the supervisor of the chain of rehabilitative homes in Israel for at-risk children and adolescents and the supervisor of therapeutic communities in the Israeli Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services, and they assisted us in recruiting research participants.

Funders
Israeli Adult Probation Service
Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Keywords

crime desistance
criminal spin
juvenile delinquency
self-control

Access to Document

10.1177/0306624x18781208

Cite this

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abstract = "The current research is a qualitative examination of the relations between self-control and deterministic/non-deterministic perceptions of life events and the drifts into or desistance from a criminal spin among juvenile delinquents. Based on in-depth semi-structured interviews with 21 adolescents (11 active delinquents and 10 desisters), we found that both the intensification of criminal behavior and the desistance from criminal activity are gradual and connected to the reduction or acquisition, respectively, of self-control and the offenders{\textquoteright} belief in their self-control. Criminal behavior and self-control were found to be associated with deterministic or non-deterministic perceptions of life events: the former combined with low self-control are associated with a delinquent lifestyle; the latter combined with high self-control promote the likelihood that young offenders will modify their behavior and desist from criminal behavior. The study may provide better understanding of the role of the criminal spin in the engagement or desistance from criminal behavior.",

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Criminal Spin, Self-Control, and Desistance From Crime Among Juvenile Delinquents: Determinism Versus Free Will in a Qualitative Perspective. / Zemel, Ofer; Einat, Tomer ; Ronel, Natti.
In: International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, Vol. 62, No. 15, 01.11.2018, p. 4739-4757.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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AU - Einat, Tomer

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AB - The current research is a qualitative examination of the relations between self-control and deterministic/non-deterministic perceptions of life events and the drifts into or desistance from a criminal spin among juvenile delinquents. Based on in-depth semi-structured interviews with 21 adolescents (11 active delinquents and 10 desisters), we found that both the intensification of criminal behavior and the desistance from criminal activity are gradual and connected to the reduction or acquisition, respectively, of self-control and the offenders’ belief in their self-control. Criminal behavior and self-control were found to be associated with deterministic or non-deterministic perceptions of life events: the former combined with low self-control are associated with a delinquent lifestyle; the latter combined with high self-control promote the likelihood that young offenders will modify their behavior and desist from criminal behavior. The study may provide better understanding of the role of the criminal spin in the engagement or desistance from criminal behavior.

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Criminal Spin, Self-Control, and Desistance From Crime Among Juvenile Delinquents: Determinism Versus Free Will in a Qualitative Perspective

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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