RT Article
T1 A Fresh Start or a False Dawn? Assessing the Crime-Preventive Effect of Debt Settlements for People With a History of Conviction
JF The British journal of criminology
VO 65
IS 3
SP 598
OP 617
A1 Gålnander, Robin
A1 Bäckman, Olof
A1 Rojas, Yerko
A2 Bäckman, Olof
A2 Rojas, Yerko
LA English
YR 2025
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1928257267
AB People with convictions often face financial challenges, which hinder desistance from crime as they have few legal opportunities to address their financial burdens. In some countries, those severely insolvent can apply for ‘debt settlement’ through Enforcement Authorities. This study explores whether such settlements are crime-preventative for people with conviction histories. Analyzing Swedish administrative data and a sample of 1,621 previously convicted applicants in 2016-17, we match and compare reconviction rates between approved and declined cases. Approved cases show much lower reconviction rates, but this effect diminishes rapidly, virtually disappearing within six months. These findings prompt a discussion of the helpfulness of debt settlements for people wanting to desist from crime. Implications for future research, policy, and practice are discussed.
K1 Debt
K1 conviction
K1 Desistance
K1 cumulative disadvantage
K1 Crime Prevention
DO 10.1093/bjc/azae067