Performing Desistance

Abstract

Despite the ubiquity of theatre projects in prisons there has been little (published) discussion of the application of theatre to the theories of criminology or rehabilitation of offenders, and scant examination of the potential for criminological theories to inform theatre practice in criminal justice settings. This article seeks to address this deficit and argues that positioning prison theatre within the discipline of positive criminology, specifically contemporary theories of desistance from crime, provides a theoretical framework for understanding the contribution that prison theatre might be making in the correctional setting. Through a review of related literature, the article explores how prison theatre may be motivating offenders toward the construction of a more adaptive narrative identity and toward the acquisition of capabilities that might usefully assist them in the process of desisting from crime.

Initiating Change of People With Criminal Justice Involvement Through Participation in a Drama Project: An Exploratory Study

“…There may be a possibility to challenge negative narrative identities of people with criminal justice involvement. The sense of usefulness and belonging could help in the formation of a pro-social identity (27).…”

“It’s Sort of Reaffirmed to Me That I’m Not a Monster, I’m Not a Terrible Person”: Sex Offenders’ Movements Toward Desistance via Peer-Support Roles in Prison

“…199-203), poor problem solving, resistance to rules and supervision, grievance/hostile thinking, dysfunctional coping, low self-esteem, and loneliness were identified as empirically supported risk factors, especially for sexual offenders. In addition, there have been calls to provide opportunities for such offenders to “do desistance” (Thornton, 2013) and demonstrate effective risk management methods (Davey, Day, & Balfour, 2015; Olver & Wong, 2013). The peer-support volunteers within this sample appeared to be addressing risk through the enactment of prosocial selves characterized by better coping, effective emotional regulation, empathy, mutual helping, and active citizenship.…”

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Prison: Experiences of Inmates, Instructors, and Prison Staff

“…Stress reduction, which can be achieved in different ways, seems to have translational effects in offenders/inmates with respect to, for example, mood, coping strategies, and drug use. For instance, positive direct effects on stress reduction and translational effects have been reported for (interventions involving) therapeutic writing (Pankey, Kelly, & Ramaswamy, 2016), theatre and music (Davey, Day, & Balfour, 2015), and yoga (Bilderbeck, Farias, Brazil, Jakobowitz, & Wikholm, 2013; Kerekes, Fielding, & Apelqvist, 2017).…”