Developmental, psychosocial factors and trauma related factors that predict offender desistance

Title

Developmental, psychosocial and trauma-related factors that predict offender desistance

Name

Tracey McDonagh

Abstract

Background:
Recidivistic criminal behaviour is a problem for all nations with a recent worldwide meta-analysis indicating that reoffending rates are as high as 50%. Understanding the factors that can predict desistance from engagement in childhood- and gender-based violence is critical in order to break the cycle of trauma.

Objectives:
Understand how developmental, psychosocial, and trauma-related factors predict desistance from crime, and desistance specifically from childhood- and gender-based crime.

Methods:
Mixed-methods approaches involving qualitative interviews and case-file reviews, along with quantitative analysis of a decade's worth of data collected by the Probation Board of Northern Ireland will be conducted among offenders who have successfully desisted from perpetrating childhood- and gender-based violence to determine specific trauma-history, developmental, and psychosocial factors that are common to 'disasters'.

Perspectives:
This project will identify important personal and psychosocial information regarding factors that reduce risk of recidivism among perpetrators of childhood- and gender-based violence. Findings will be used to make recommendations for how to intervene at developmental, psychosocial, and trauma levels to encourage desistance.

Deliverables:
Deliverables: Strategies to reduce the risk of re-offending amongst perpetrators of childhood- and gender-based violence and recommendations for how to intervene on developmental, psychosocial, and trauma-related factors to encourage desistance.

Keywords

Child and gender-based offending, desistance, trauma, developmental, psychosocial, Northern Ireland

Start date and expected end date

01.03.2017 – 29.02.2020

Main supervisor

Professor Ask Elklit, Department of Psychology, University of Southern Denmark

Co-supervisors

Dr. Cherie Armour, Ulster University;
Dr. Geraldine O'Hare, Probation Board of Northern Ireland

Collaborators

Probation Board of Northern Ireland

Funding

European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme - Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement