소년원생의 정체성 변화(identity change)가 출원 후 범죄중단 과정에 미치는 영향

Abstract

Recent researches have examined the role of identity, cognitive transformation, and redemption script in the desistance from crime as the process of decreasing offending over time. Developmental and Life-course theories suggest useful three categories by using longitudinal designs to point out factors that place individuals at risk for crime: theories of continuity, theories of continuity or change, and theories of continuity and change. This article explores the identity theories in continuity and change category that juvenile criminal desistance is caused by a change from deviant identity to pro-social identity. Using data of delinquents who was sentenced from juvenile courts in South Korea, I analyzed how pro-social identity change over time, whether this change affect negative or positive cognition and behavior after release from training schools, and what are predictors to change their identity. The analyses of latent growth model reveal that pro-social identity increase over time and significant predictors of this change are age, type of protective disposition, attachment to parents, support of training school staffs. Most of all, the results support identity theories of desistance that through identity changes, while seduction of criminal conduct is decreasing over time, social support to help them and job aspiration for future are increasing over time. These results have implications for desistance theories from crime as well as desistance programs in juvenile correctional practices.