The objective of this article is to identify the interpersonal factors that explain narratives of desistance among offenders who have been sentenced to prison. Through narrative interviews, we have studied a purposeful age-graded sample of men convicted of acquisitive crimes. Although the results confirm the leading research of Laub and Sampson (2003) about the importance of social bonds as a change catalyst, they also suggest that changes in narratives may not only depend on the participation in new social institutions but also in the new meaning that institutions present during the criminal career of offenders, like family relationships, may acquire in adulthood.
This article examines how close the Spanish penitentiary system comes to fulfilling an ideal role for the prison in the system of punishment based on: (a) limitation of the use of imprisonment; (b) normalization of prison life; and (c) early reintegration into society of prisoners in the process of rehabilitation. On the basis of official reports and data of the years 1996-2003, it is first shown that although non-custodial punishments have produced a reduction in the use of imprisonment, this effect has been extensively compensated for by the increased period that prisoners have to serve before parole is granted. Second, although prison conditions have improved considerably since the 1990s, the system continues to suffer from some important shortcomings. Finally, the article compares the use of open prison and parole in the two administrations that manage Spanish prisons (the Catalan administration and the General Administration of the State) and explores the relationship between a policy based on rehabilitation and the effective duration of the sentence.
A B S T R A C TThis article examines the effects of custodial versus non-custodial sentences on recidivism. An eight-year follow-up study was conducted to track and compare rates of recidivism between former prisoners and offenders who had served a suspended prison sentence. Drawing upon a representative sample of 483 offenders sentenced in 1998 by the Criminal Courts of Barcelona, two subpopulations of offenders were selected. The first group consisted of offenders who were sentenced to prison (n = 179) and the comparison group was composed of those who were given a suspended prison sentence (n = 304). After controlling for other risk factors predictive of recidivism, logistic regression techniques were used to examine whether the variable 'type of sanction' (prison or suspended prison sentence) predicts reconviction rates. The analysis revealed that the offenders given suspended sentences had a lower risk of reconviction than those given custodial sentences. The findings provide evidence that alternatives to custody are more effective than imprisonment in reducing recidivism. Finally, the article discusses how these findings relate to labelling and specific deterrence theories that make contradictory claims regarding the effects of imprisonment on recidivism. K E Y W O R D SDeterrence / Imprisonment / Labelling Theory / Recidivism / Suspended Sentence.
In this article we analyse the structure, composition and relational resources of young offenders’ personal networks in order to identify how they are related to desistance. We present a mixed-methods analysis of a sample of young offenders, either in juvenile custody or on probation in Catalonia’s juvenile justice system. We first construct a typology of personal networks according to their composition and structure. In each of the profiles we conduct a qualitative analysis in order to identify the role of relational resources in desistance processes and the meaning that desisters give to these resources. Results show the different relevance of strong and weak ties according to the characteristics of the network and explain how these ties may contribute to the process of desistance.
Desistance research has linked prison inmate expectations with positive outcomes after release, but very little research addresses what makes them optimistic about their future. Using data from a representative sample, this article analyzes whether the manner in which a prison sentence is served impacts expectations about reentry. Results show that experiencing harsh prison conditions makes incarcerees more pessimistic about reentry, while receiving family support during imprisonment has the opposite effect. Given that the mission of the prison system is to prepare prisoners for a successful reentry, this study has several implications for correctional agencies.
1. INTRODUCCION; 2. LA SOLUCION PENAL DEL CONFLICTO: EL PARADIGMA PROPORCIONALISTA; 3. CABOS SUELTOS DEL PARADIGMA PROPORCIONALISTA; 3.1. Vínculo excesivo con la pena de prisión; 3.2. Rol secundario de la rehabilitación; 3.3. Olvido de la víctima; 4. OTRAS FORMAS DE SOLUCION DEL CONFLICTO; 4.1. Alternativas a la prisión; 4.2. Justicia restauradora; 5. CONCLUSIONES; Bibliografía.*** En definitiva, el derecho penal debería convertirse en un derecho de alternativas para el sujeto. Si el derecho penal entra a solucionar un conflicto, de partida implica alternativas, en cuanto señala cuál es la opción o alternativa que no se acepta por el sistema (en este sentido previene de modo general) y al mismo tiempo deja abierta cualquier otra alternativa a las partes en el conflicto. Es por eso que el derecho penal sólo puede entrar a jugar cuando no se ha dado ninguna de las otras alternativas posibles y de ahí también que no debe jugar y ni siquiera ser considerado (…) cuando hay otras alternativas mejores para un determinado conflicto social. Por eso la propia pena en su imposición misma tiene siempre que partir de que se trata de * Este es el texto que sirvió de base a la ponencia realizada en el "XI Encuentro del Anuario de la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid", sobre el tema "Medios alternativos de solución de controversias" realizado en la Facultad de Derecho de la UAM, 14-16 noviembre 2006. Se han introducido algunas modificaciones para dar respuesta a cuestiones formuladas en el coloquio. Agradezco, además, las observaciones realizadas a una versión anterior de este escrito por parte de mis colegas Gonzalo Escobar, Elena Larrauri y Daniel Varona. Algunas de las ideas que se exponen en este trabajo surgieron en una estancia de investigación en el Instituto de Criminología de la Universidad de Cambridge en la primavera del 2001 donde me beneficié mucho de las discusiones con los profesores Andrew Von Hirsch y Anthony Bottoms, a quienes agradezco mucho el tiempo que me dedicaron. Dado que el debate que se plantea en el trabajo entre proporcionalismo y formas alternativas de resolución de conflicto se ha realizado principalmente en el ámbito anglosajón me he ceñido básicamente a esta literatura, sin poder entrar en la discusión sobre el principio de proporcionalidad de la doctrina jurídica española. La realización de este trabajo se integra en los proyectos de investigación financiados por el Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia, Dirección General de Investigación: La credibilidad de las penas alternativas (SEJ 2005-08955-C02-01/JURI) y Políticas de reinserción en el ámbito penal (DER 2008-0541) y también ha contado con el apoyo del Departamento de Universidades de la Generalidad de Cataluña a los grupos de investigación consolidados (Grupo de Investigación en Criminología aplicada a la penología).
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