‘An inside job’: An autobiographical account of desistance

Abstract

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.

‘From disaster to master’: Exploring the journey beyond desistance in Ireland

“…I am the oldest son and have one younger sister. As an ex-offender and graduate of an MSc Criminology and Criminal Justice programme, I am ‘well-placed to explore pathways to desistance from a dual-perspective,’ drawing on my ‘lived experiences and academic knowledge to find meaning in – and impose form on’ (Hart and Healy, 2018) – my life story up to and beyond desistance. In light of my lived experience, I have gone through a whole process of elimination looking for reasons for my deviant behaviours, so what was different about me?…”

“…Up to this point, this was not my experience with the justice system. For the first time in my life, I was engaged in a healthy relationship that, on reflection, was a major turning point in my life (Hart and Healy, 2018). My experiences in this regard reflect the wider academic literature that suggests that these characteristics and working practices can enhance the legitimacy of probation work and support the desistance process (e.g.…”

“…One example that springs to mind was when I was challenged in a team meeting, the tone and language of which I perceived to be aggressive. I never responded well to this behaviour in the past; it brings up a lot of fear in me that stems from a history of sexual abuse and intimidation as a child (see Hart and Healy, 2018). These experiences activated a defence mechanism and I became somewhat guarded, sitting back and assessing the dynamic within Bridge.…”

“…His account is accompanied by the reflections of another practitioner in his workplace who does not possess lived experience of offending or desistance and an academic with expertise in the field of desistance research. The discussion follows on from an earlier article by Hart and Healy (2018), which used a desistance-based framework to chart the middle ground between the personal and the general, exploring the gap between desistance as portrayed in the academic literature and as lived by the desister. Ultimately, this analysis highlighted that desistance was a process, emerging gradually over time through an ongoing interaction between structure, social bonds and agency.…”

Giving and getting parole: The changing characteristics of parole in England and Wales

“…They also need to accept responsibility for their crimes. But it is enormously difficult to do this in today’s prison system (see also Hart and Healy, 2018).…”