Journal of Developmental and Life-Course Criminology

Scope & Guideline

Innovating Research on Developmental Pathways and Justice

Introduction

Welcome to the Journal of Developmental and Life-Course Criminology information hub, where our guidelines provide a wealth of knowledge about the journal’s focus and academic contributions. This page includes an extensive look at the aims and scope of Journal of Developmental and Life-Course Criminology, highlighting trending and emerging areas of study. We also examine declining topics to offer insight into academic interest shifts. Our curated list of highly cited topics and recent publications is part of our effort to guide scholars, using these guidelines to stay ahead in their research endeavors.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN2199-4641
PublisherSPRINGER INT PUBL AG
Support Open AccessNo
CountrySwitzerland
TypeJournal
Convergefrom 2015 to 2024
AbbreviationJ DEV LIFE-COURSE CR / J. Dev. Life-Course Criminol.
Frequency4 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
AddressGEWERBESTRASSE 11, CHAM CH-6330, SWITZERLAND

Aims and Scopes

The Journal of Developmental and Life-Course Criminology focuses on the intricate interplay between developmental processes, life-course trajectories, and criminal behavior. It aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how various factors influence criminality over time, integrating insights from psychology, sociology, and criminology.
  1. Developmental Trajectories of Crime:
    This area examines how criminal behavior evolves throughout different stages of life, considering the impact of early experiences, family dynamics, and social contexts.
  2. Intergenerational Influences:
    Research in this scope investigates how criminal behaviors and risk factors are transmitted across generations, exploring the roles of familial relationships and environmental influences.
  3. Psychosocial Factors in Criminality:
    The journal emphasizes the importance of psychosocial factors, including mental health, agency, and peer influences, in understanding the onset and persistence of criminal behavior.
  4. Preventive and Intervention Strategies:
    A significant focus is on evaluating the effectiveness of various intervention and prevention programs aimed at reducing delinquency and supporting at-risk youth.
  5. Methodological Innovations:
    The journal encourages the use of advanced methodological approaches, such as longitudinal studies and trajectory analysis, to provide robust insights into the dynamics of crime over the life course.
Recent publications reflect a shift towards exploring new themes and methodologies in developmental and life-course criminology. These emerging areas highlight the evolving understanding of the factors influencing criminal behavior across the lifespan.
  1. Impact of Mental Health on Criminal Behavior:
    There is an increasing focus on the interplay between mental health issues and criminal behavior, examining how psychological factors contribute to delinquency and recidivism.
  2. Role of Peer Influence:
    Emerging research emphasizes the significance of peer dynamics, particularly how peer relationships affect delinquent behavior and the development of prosocial behaviors.
  3. Turning Points and Life Events:
    Recent studies are increasingly exploring how significant life events, such as parental incarceration or educational transitions, serve as turning points that can alter an individual's trajectory concerning crime.
  4. Intersectionality in Criminology:
    A growing body of work is addressing how intersecting identities (such as gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status) influence criminal behavior and experiences within the justice system.
  5. Cumulative Risk Models:
    Research is trending towards understanding the cumulative risk factors that contribute to criminal behavior, highlighting how multiple adverse experiences can interact over time to increase risk.

Declining or Waning

While the journal maintains a broad focus on developmental criminology, certain themes have seen a decline in prominence over recent years. This reflects shifts in research priorities and emerging interests within the field.
  1. Traditional Theories of Crime:
    There has been a noticeable decrease in the application of traditional criminological theories, such as strain theory or routine activity theory, in favor of more nuanced developmental and life-course perspectives.
  2. Focus on Adult Criminality:
    Research centered exclusively on adult criminal behavior without consideration of developmental antecedents has become less frequent, as the journal increasingly emphasizes the life-course perspective.
  3. Single-factor Explanations:
    The journal has moved away from studies that focus on single-factor explanations of crime (e.g., socioeconomic status alone) towards more complex, multifactorial analyses that consider the interplay of various influences.

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