Global Perspectives on Desistance

Abstract

Some authors have argued that turning points and other pathways to desistance may be dependent on the context and therefore desistance scholars should pay attention to the structural dimension of desistance. Following this suggestion, this paper describes some structural aspects of the Spanish society -such as the high familism, the limited availability of unqualified male jobs, the discrimination face by immigrants and the selective rehabilitation role of the penitentiary system-that seem relevant to understand the pathways of desistance and persistence in this country. These pathways have been found in a research with incarcerated men conducted by the authors in Barcelona (Catalonia). Finally some practical and theoretical implications are discussed.