Biosocial Factors and Their Influence on Desistance, Executive Summary

• NCJ Number: 302410
• Date Published: October 2021
• Author(s): Danielle L. Boisvert
• Agencies: NIJ
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)

Annotation

This executive summary details a white paper that examined desistance from crime from a biosocial perspective (i.e., brain development, neuropsychological functioning, and stress system response research) to provide guidance for novel evidence-based correctional policy and practice initiatives.

Abstract

Desistance from crime from a biosocial perspective relies on the inclusion of brain development, neuropsychological functioning, and stress system response research that has specific implications for human behavior. The integration of biosocial research and the application of a biosocial lens have the potential to provide a more comprehensive account of the factors that influence the desistance process. The white paper detailed in this executive summary examines desistance from crime from a biosocial perspective and provides a guide for new initiatives in evidence-based correctional policy and practice. It calls for refining assessment practices, procedures, and facilities management in correctional settings to recognize the importance of biological risk factors.