The study of desistance from crime, or the process of ceasing criminal activity, is hindered by definitional, measurement, and theoretical inconsistencies. A unifying framework is needed to distinguish between the termination of offending and the underlying causal process of desistance. Key factors associated with desistance include good marriages, stable employment, identity transformation, and aging. Several theoretical frameworks can explain desistance, including maturation, aging, developmental, life-course, rational choice, and social learning theories. The life-course perspective is particularly compelling, emphasizing the role of social context in shaping the dynamics of desistance. The authors argue that a life-course theory of age-graded informal social control is the most effective framework for understanding both the onset and desistance from crime. They highlight new findings from their long-term study of 500 delinquents, which underscores the need to view desistance as a process involving interactions between human agency, salient life events, and historical context. The implications for future research and crime control policies are discussed, emphasizing the importance of integrating quantitative and qualitative methods to better understand the causal mechanisms supporting desistance.The study of desistance from crime, or the process of ceasing criminal activity, is hindered by definitional, measurement, and theoretical inconsistencies. A unifying framework is needed to distinguish between the termination of offending and the underlying causal process of desistance. Key factors associated with desistance include good marriages, stable employment, identity transformation, and aging. Several theoretical frameworks can explain desistance, including maturation, aging, developmental, life-course, rational choice, and social learning theories. The life-course perspective is particularly compelling, emphasizing the role of social context in shaping the dynamics of desistance. The authors argue that a life-course theory of age-graded informal social control is the most effective framework for understanding both the onset and desistance from crime. They highlight new findings from their long-term study of 500 delinquents, which underscores the need to view desistance as a process involving interactions between human agency, salient life events, and historical context. The implications for future research and crime control policies are discussed, emphasizing the importance of integrating quantitative and qualitative methods to better understand the causal mechanisms supporting desistance.