Advancing knowledge about residual criminal careers: A follow-up to age 56 from the Cambridge study in delinquent development

Abstract

PurposeThis study investigates criminal career parameters that are associated with residual career length (RCL) and residual number of offenses (RNO) across various periods of the life course. MethodsDrawing on official data from the Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development up to age 56, distributions of RCL and RNO are examined for various criminal career features: age, conviction number, time since the last conviction, age of onset, co-offending, and offense type. ResultsThe residual number of years and offenses remaining in criminal careers declines steadily with age. Residual criminal careers decline with increasing time since the last offense; RCL and RNO display the most substantial declines after 5 years have elapsed since the last offense. The average RCL is the same for nonviolent and violent offenses, and the average RNO is lower for the latter. Risk scores predicted RNO more strongly than RCL. ConclusionsGiven the historically unprecedented number of individuals with a criminal record, and the resulting stigma and blocked access to employment and housing opportunities, residual criminal career research has important implications for reintegration efforts. Not all criminal records are equal. Evidence suggests that not all features of prior criminal records may be predictive of future offending.