Episode 3: Desistance and Recidivism, part 1 (Dr. Bret Bucklen)

The PA Prisons and Parole Podcast

In this episode we discuss the concept of “desistance,” an idea which has been around for a while in academic criminology but is only now beginning to catch on among corrections practitioners and policy-makers. Dr. Bucklen describes what desistance is, discusses how to define and measure it, and explains its practical use as a complimentary measure to recidivism by correctional agencies.

Resources referenced in this episode:

• Pennsylvania Department of Corrections’ 2022 Recidivism Report

• National Institute of Justice (NIJ) report – “Desistance from Crime: Implications for Research, Policy, and Practice”