Understanding and Preventing Recidivism of Young Offenders in Argentina

This book aims to advance knowledge about the recidivism of young offenders. It reviews knowledge about risk factors for recidivism and about protective factors that encourage desistance. It then reviews quantitative research on predictors of recidivism versus desistance of young offenders in Buenos Aires, Argentina, based on following up over 100 young offenders during a two-year statutory monitoring period. Numerous factors are identified that predict recidivism: family, educational, social, community, demographic, offence history, substance use history. It then presents qualitative research based on offenders’ narratives, using extensive verbatim quotations, that explain their recidivism versus desistance. Finally, it reviews research on the prevention of recidivism of young offenders and makes recommendations based on the quantitative and qualitative analyses. This book should be of great interest to all academics, researchers, practitioners and policy makers who are interestedin juvenile offending and recidivism, including criminologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, social scientists and criminal justice practitioners. 

Mirian Susana Orlando PHD, PSY.T, B.A., M.A., Chief Executive- National Supreme Court of Argentina. She has monitored more than 3000 young offenders aiming desistance from crime. Doctoral Dissertation “Resilience and Socio-Emotional Competencies in Recidivist and non-Recidivist Young Offenders” (2020).

In 2020 Dr Orlando was honoured to be a Visiting Scholar at the Institute of Criminology, Cambridge University hosted by Professor David Farrington, a leader with a worldwide reputation for excellence in both teaching and research. He constitutes a major influence in her academic career, having guided her to develop the skills needed to become an international researcher.

From 2021 to the present, Dr Orlando has published articles in major journals with Professor Farrington, making significant scientific contributions to juvenile offending and recidivism in the lesser-studied context of Argentina and internationally.

Since 2022 Dr Orlando head the section “Youth in Conflict with the Law” of the Argentina Association of Mental Health.  

David P. Farrington, O.B.E., is Emeritus Professor of Psychological Criminology at Cambridge University. Among other awards, he has received the Stockholm Prize in Criminology, and an honorary degree of Sc.D. from Trinity College, University of Dublin. Among other appointments, he has been President of the American Society of Criminology, President of the European Association of Psychology and Law, President of the British Society of Criminology, President of the Academy of Experimental Criminology, and Chair of the International Campbell Collaboration Crime and Justice Group. His major research interest is in developmental criminology, and he is co-Director of the Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development, which is a prospective longitudinal survey of over 400 London males from age 8 to age 61. In addition to 923 published journal articles and book chapters on criminological and psychological topics, he has published 135 books, monographs and government publications, and 164 shorter publications.