Explorations in theories of desistance
| Author | Stephen Farrall |
| Date | 01 February 2009 |
| DOI | 10.1177/1362480608100170 |
| Published date | 01 February 2009 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Theoretical Criminology
© 2009 SAGE Publications
Los Angeles, London,
New Delhi and Singapore
www.sagepublications.com
Vol. 13(1): 5–8; 1362–4806
DOI: 10.1177/1362480608100170
Explorations in theories of desistance
Societal-level approaches to reform
An introduction
S T E P H E N FA R R A L L
Sheffield University, UK
Studies of why people stop offending have repeatedly found various associ-
ations between, for example, changes in individual lifestyles, adaptive
approaches, levels of criminal engagement and patterns of offending (e.g.
Maruna, 2001; Giordano et al., 2002; Farrall, 2005). Many such studies
have, understandably, focused on the individual as the unit of analysis. It is
the ex-prisoner’s desire to ‘go straight’, the reforming drug user’s wish to
‘make good’ or the aging criminal’s inability to cope with the lifestyle asso-
ciated with crime which greatly influences the nature of their eventual desis-
tance. These studies have helped to illuminate a range of important facets
of desistance, including motivation (Cusson and Pinsonneault, 1986), the
role of hope (e.g. Burnett and Maruna, 2004) and the notion of ‘burn out’
(Shover, 1983). Whilst such studies have undoubtedly increased our under-
standing of desistance, to varying degrees, and certainly by no means com-
pletely, they leave in the empirical and theoretical shadows the role of the
wider society in shaping trajectories of desistance.
This collection of six essays seeks to remedy this situation.1 Certainly
much good work has already started to chart these processes— Sampson and
Laub’s (1993) contribution being the most obvious example. This collection,
as well as seeking to explore and throw further light upon the macro-level
processes associated with desistance, is able to engage with a number of new
themes in resettlement and reform following punishment which have
recently emerged. In the context of this collection, these include McEvoy and
Shirlow’s study of ex-paramilitaries and their engagement in processes of
political leadership. Similarly, the essay by Rowbotham exploring Victorian
and Edwardian strategies for promoting desistance highlights...
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