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Various theories have been put forward to explain the processes underpinning desistance from crime. To provide additional insights into this phenomenon, this article presents an autobiographical account of one man's journey towards a crime-free life. The narrative reveals a change process that is at once personal and universal, and describes the external forces that shaped his pathway to desistance as well as his experiences of personal fortitude and agency. In addition, it highlights the role of probation supervision as a catalyst for change. The autobiographical account is accompanied by a reflective academic commentary that situates these personal life experiences within the wider desistance literature. While the reader may view the autobiographical tone of this article as subjective, it should be noted that the account is not simply a re-telling of an individual life story but offers a critical appraisal of existing knowledge viewed through the lens of one person's journey towards desistance.

Desistance scholars maintain that innovative and sustainable mechanisms are needed to support the enhancement of human development. Failure to desist is often attributed to limited personal agency and structural disadvantages such as a lack of education attainment and meaningful employment. Therefore, it is argued that criminal justice responses should break down educational and employment barriers in the desistance process, if we are to help remove hurdles to both social cohesion and social integration. To provide additional insights into this phenomenon, this article presents an autobiographical, reflective and experiential account of these challenges in the life of a desister from multiple perspectives. The narrative reveals that the change process extends beyond the attainment of education and meaningful employment, and describes the challenges faced by both work colleagues and the desister. These accounts are accompanied by a reflective academic commentary that situates these personal work experiences within the wider desistance literature, helping to add a critical appraisal of existing knowledge as viewed through the lens of one person’s desistance process over a 10-year period through education and into employment.

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