Research on Desistance from Crime in Asia: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Despite a notable increase in the desistance literature, Asia remains a significant gap in this field. We conducted a scoping review to provide an overview of the current state of desistance research in Asia and to identify the factors that facilitate desistance in this region. In January 2024, literature searches were conducted across seven databases in January 2024: CINAHL, MEDLINE, ProQuest, PubMed, PsychINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science. After screening, we identified nine relevant studies. Our scoping review revealed that desistance research in Asia remains at a nascent stage and is disproportionately focused on East Asia. Additionally, we identified four key areas of focus in the region’s desistance research: (1) family relationships, (2) social networks and support, (3) religion, and (4) culture.