Imprisonment, Social Support, and Desistance: A Theoretical Approach to Pathways of Desistance and Persistence for Imprisoned Men

Abstract

Desistance should be the main ground for reentry policies for imprisoned offenders. However, theories on desistance are diverse, and they disagree about the key factors related to the origin, maintenance, and failures of the desistance process. This research considers three main theories of desistance-control, cognitive transformation, and strain-social support-to explain desistance in a qualitative sample of imprisoned men in Spain. The main finding of the research is that strain-social support theory may be of primary importance for understanding desistance because of its capacity to explain processes of change that begin during imprisonment and that continue upon release.

Walking Into the Sunset: How Criminal Achivement Shapes the Desistance Process: Criminal Achievement and the Desistance Process

“…Endorsement of this new identity is fostered by positive family relationships, employment, or participation in various programs. Although identity change is an internal factor, such a redefinition of the self is possible only if supported by the social structures, as Giordano and colleagues (2002) argue (see also Cid & Martí, 2017; Maruna et al, 2009). Desistance for Group 1 thus relies on support for change, which makes them vulnerable to relapses, especially given the many barriers that characterize their paths.…”

Desistance from crime and restorative justice

“…These communities serve an important normative function by developing, communicating and upholding shared norms and values, not just during restorative justice practices but also afterwards when the (ex-) offender returns to society. The importance of social support, particularly from families, in the desistance process cannot be stressed enough (Cid & Marti 2015).…”

“…Shapland and Bottoms (2011: 277) explain that 'active maturation', the willingness and ability to tolerate the shortcomings of a conventional life, such as poverty or boredom, is an important element in not losing that motivation to desist, and at the same time, seeing the benefits of a pro-social life, such as peace and companionship. The research of Cid and Marti (2015) reveals the importance of social support, particularly from families, as it produces a feeling of reciprocity and a desire for compensation from exoffenders that explains their motivation to initiate and maintain change and that stimulates them to seek hooks for change.…”

Does the Experience of Imprisonment Affect Optimism About Reentry?

“…On the one hand, social support may generate a feeling of moral compensation in inmates and parolees in which they wish to change as a way of returning or giving something back, or not disappointing the persons that may have provided support during incarceration. This willingness to change seems to produce confidence in successful reentry (Calverley, 2013;Cid & Martí, 2017;Schroeder Giordano, & Cernkovich, 2010). On the other hand, other sources of identity transformation may come from identification with the positive values of the persons that provide support (Giordano, Schroeder, & Cernkovich, 2007) or with the positive social roles in which prisoners and parolees may be expected to adopt (Maruna, 2001).…”