"I just had to break away from that shit" : juvenile offenders' narratives of desistance
SUONTAUSTA, PETRA (2013)
2013
Sosiaalityö - Social Work
Yhteiskunta- ja kulttuuritieteiden yksikkö - School of Social Sciences and Humanities
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2013-05-29
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:uta-1-23929
https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:uta-1-23929
Tiivistelmä
This research explores the process of desistance of juvenile offenders. Aim of the research is to understand how juveniles with a history of persistent offending perceive the factors that have led to cessation of deviant behavior and supported their desistance from crime.
Eight Finnish men aged 16-30 years were interviewed for the study. Data was collected using open interviews and analyzed by narrative analysis. Life course model is used as a theoretical framework to explain how life history and social context affect human agency.
Findings of this study indicate that the negative experiences related to criminal life and substance abuse, such as constant threat of violence, initiate a volition in the juveniles to break away of the criminal life. This personal volition starts the process of desistance. In addition, supportive environment and alternative possibilities that the juveniles perceive as meaningful enhance desistance from crime. Important supporting environments for desistance are peer support networks, official services and social relationships, such as family. Desistance is also supported by the juveniles? belief in self-efficacy and experiences of succeeding, and pro-social goals for the future and belief in being able to achieve them.
Asiasanat: Juvenile offender, desistance, youth crime, narrative
Eight Finnish men aged 16-30 years were interviewed for the study. Data was collected using open interviews and analyzed by narrative analysis. Life course model is used as a theoretical framework to explain how life history and social context affect human agency.
Findings of this study indicate that the negative experiences related to criminal life and substance abuse, such as constant threat of violence, initiate a volition in the juveniles to break away of the criminal life. This personal volition starts the process of desistance. In addition, supportive environment and alternative possibilities that the juveniles perceive as meaningful enhance desistance from crime. Important supporting environments for desistance are peer support networks, official services and social relationships, such as family. Desistance is also supported by the juveniles? belief in self-efficacy and experiences of succeeding, and pro-social goals for the future and belief in being able to achieve them.
Asiasanat: Juvenile offender, desistance, youth crime, narrative