Date of Award
Fall 11-13-2024
Degree Type
Dissertation/Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Criminal Justice
Department
Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice
Committee Chair/First Advisor
Dr. Beverly Reece Churchwell
Second Advisor
Dr. Sara Evans
Third Advisor
Dr. Richard Stringer
Abstract
The current study aimed to contribute to the overall knowledge of desistance patterns among juveniles by exploring them among serious juvenile offenders who come from a broken home. Utilizing the Pathways to Desistance (PTD) dataset, this study used logistic regression to examine the impact of family composition on later desistance while controlling for various adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) one might experience. Two research questions guide this study: (1) Does family composition (i.e., “broken homes”) impact later desistance among serious adolescent offenders, while controlling for important criminological predictors (i.e., self-control and antisocial peer influence)? (2) Is the quality of one’s home environment (i.e., parental warmth/hostility, ACEs) more impactful in the desistance process than family composition? Important implications for the findings of this study are discussed.
Thesis Defense Outcome Form
Included in
Criminology and Criminal Justice Commons, Family, Life Course, and Society Commons, Law Enforcement and Corrections Commons, Social Control, Law, Crime, and Deviance Commons