TRAJECTORIES OF CHANGE IN CRIMINAL OFFENDING - GOOD MARRIAGES AND THEDESISTANCE PROCESS

Building on Sampson and Laub (1993), we draw an analogy between change s in criminal offending spurred by the formation of social bonds and a n investment process. This conceptualization suggests that because inv estment in social relationships is gradual and cumulative, resulting d esistance will be gradual and cumulative. Using a dynamic statistical model developed by Nagin and Land (1993), we test our ideas about chan ge using yearly longitudinal data from Glueck and Glueck's (1950, 1968 ) classic study of criminal careers. Our results show that desistance from crime is facilitated by the development of quality marital bonds, and that this influence is gradual and cumulative over time.