This study reviews theoretical comparisons regarding reentry issues of incarcerated people in order to promote a better understanding of individuals’ criminal desistance. There are three major competing criminal desistance theories, and they include the subjective (identity) theory explaining an individual’s subjective processes, structural (social bonds) theory focusing on structural conditions, and integrative (subjective-social model) theory describing personal commitment and motivation combined with structural resources. First, identity defined as a sense of self is directly linked to one’s motivation and behavioral guidelines. Thus, identity theory assumes that intentional changes in one’s sense of self are necessary for criminal desistance. The theory posits that only justice-involved individuals who intentionally transform their identities can attempt to utilize structural support to help them pursue change. Second, the structural theory on social bonds provides an appropriate theoretical foundation on how social bonds, such as employment, affect criminal desistance through a series of exogenous circumstances called turning points. Employment is an important example of a social bond for justice-involved individuals since it provides structure to one’s life. Third, the integrative model assumes that personal characteristics may interact within social contexts, in that an individual has to identify, select, and act within the structure they live in, through their cognitive transformation. This article also briefly discusses two major methodological challenges deriving from the utilization of the theory.

ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 THEORIES OF CRIMINAL DESISTANCE: SUBJECTIVE VS.STRUCTURAL VS. INTEGRATIVE?
  Subjective Theory on Desistance: Identity Theory
  Structural Theory on Desistance: Theory of Social Bonds
  Integrative Theory on Desistance: Subjective-Social Model
  Synthesis of Theoretical Frameworks
 MAJOR METHODOLOGICAL CHALLENGES RELATED TOTHE USE OF CRIMINAL DESISTANCE THEORY
  Conceptual Definition: What is Desistance?
  Source of Data and Measurement
 CONCLUSION
 REFERENCES

• Lewis H. Lee(University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA)