Theorizing structural and individual-level processes in desistance and persistence: Outlining an integrated perspective

Abstract

In this paper we outline our current thinking on the processes associated with desistance from crime. This work, conducted as part of the theoretical apparatus of a fifth sweep of interviews with a cohort of ex-probationers originally interviewed for the first time in the late 1990s-but which, by implication holds lessons for those researching people leaving prisonis an attempt to build an account of the processes which help to shape the speed, nature and direction of an individual's efforts to avoid further offending. In it we develop an account of desistance which draws on thinking about macro-level structures and meso-level influences whilst retaining sufficient room for individual agency. Our account, whilst based on what we have learnt from the previous four sweeps of interviews with this cohort and other studies we have undertaken, nevertheless remains a 'work in progress'. We describe briefly the design and aims of the fifth sweep of interviews towards the end of the article.

Conversational Narratives at Quixote House: How Released Offenders and Religious Members Build Community and Find a New Identity in Winnipeg

“…Some studies link the rates of recidivism to individual characteristics, such as mental illness or the conviction for certain types of offence (Collins, Vermeiren, Vahl, Markus, Broekaert, & Doreleijers, 2011;Serowik & Yanos, 2011;Langevin, et al, 2004;Webster, Gartner, & Doob, 2006). Other studies focus on social and structural factors that impede the "desistance from crime" in the growing convict population (Farrall, Sharpe, Hunter, & Calverley, 2011). For example, the criminal record of an individual creates "a chronic and debilitating badge of shame that plagues exconvicts and exoffenders for the rest of their lives" (Murphy, Fuleihan, Richards, & Jones, 2011).…”

Hoping Against Hope: The Prison-to-Community Transition Experience of Men With Co-Occurring Severe Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorder

“…Complementing and extending the work on the role of social capital is a body of literature supporting the notion that both individual and social factors impact on the prison-tocommunity transition experience and that there is interaction between individual agency and the structural environment (Farrall, Bottoms, & Shapland, 2010;Farrall & Bowling, 1999;Farrall et al, 2011;O'Brien, 2001). Others debate the "chicken and egg" (LeBel, Burnett, Maruna, & Bushway, 2008) of the role of agency and structure, such as "which comes first" and which has the greatest impact on offending behaviour (Laub & Sampson, 1993).…”

“…They asserted that "securing employment, resolving conflict with family members, maintaining sobriety, joining a community organisation … are all indicators of successful attachment to the institutions of civil society", potentially leading to reduced offending (p. 107). Later work built on these ideas and the attention began to shift in prison-to-community transition research to social, economic and support domains (Baldry et al, 2006;Graffam et al, 2005), to health as the central focus (Binswanger et al, 2011;Kinner, 2006;Kinner, Burford et al, 2013;Levy, 2005), to the relevance of social capital (Mills & Codd, 2008;Taylor, 2013;Wolff & Draine, 2004), and to the interaction between the individual and the environment (Farrall & Bowling, 1999;Farrall, Sharpe, Hunter, & Calverley, 2011).…”

“…There is a small but growing body of literature that supports the notion that there is an interaction between individual agency and the structural environment and that both individual and social factors impact on the experience of prisoners and ex-prisoners, including during transition Farrall et al, 2011;O'Brien 2001;Farrall & Bowling 1999). Structuration theory proposes that structure is not entirely external to individuals and that structure and agency are not a dualism but rather a "duality" (1984, p. 374).…”

“…The political/macroeconomic risk environment is increasingly recognised as impacting on health and wellbeing (Kelly et al, 2009;Rhodes, 2009), particularly for prisoners and exprisoners Farrall et al, 2011). This discussion has also recently commenced in terms of the Australian context (Cunneen, et al, 2013).…”