Authors: Ronet Bachman, Erin Kerrison, Daniel O'Connell,
Raymond
Paternoster
Abstract:
Using a mixed-methods research design, this study followed
former drug-involved offenders for just over 20 years after their release from
prison in order to examine the mechanisms and processes of their desistance
from crime and drug use.
Interviews with the participants (n=304) found that the vast
majority of offenders who had successfully desisted from both crime and drug
use first transformed their self-consciousness from an "offender
identity" into a "non-offender working identity."
This was the case for both racial and gender groups interviewed.
This cognitive change was typically motivated by respondents' realization that
if they did not change their criminal and drug-using behaviors, they would
likely have an early death from drug effects or their criminal lifestyle.
In order to reinforce their new "non-offender"
identity, study participants used various tools, including increased
interaction with law-abiding friends and staying away from locations that
triggered their drug use or criminal behavior.
Although treatment usually did not result in immediate
desistance from drug use and criminal behavior for most involved in this study,
the majority who desisted from drug use and crime relied on behavioral tools
learned in treatment in order to sustain desistance from drug use and crime.
Many cited religion as an important resource for maintaining
their desistance from drug use and crime. Contrary to life-course theory,
romantic partnerships and parenthood were not prominent factors in desistance
from drug use and crime; however, rekindling relationships with adult children
or grandchildren was an important factor for many respondents.
Although being employed was not a primary factor in
desistance from crime and drug use, the maintenance of a
"non-offender" identity was more difficult when meaningful employment
was not a central feature of a "non-offender" identity.
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