Hook for change or shaky peg? Imprisonment, narratives and desistance

Schinkel, M. (2015) Hook for change or shaky peg? Imprisonment, narratives and desistance. European Journal of Probation, 7(1), pp. 5-20. (doi: 10.1177/2066220315575204)

[img]
Preview
Text
100320.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

434kB

Abstract

Given the twin challenges of the fiscal costs of high levels of imprisonment and of high reconviction rates post-release, the question of whether imprisonment can (and does) contribute to processes of desistance is a crucial one. This paper discusses the repeated, and controversial, research finding that some prisoners see themselves as transformed by imprisonment. It argues, with reference to the narratives of Scottish prisoners, that this is not due to intentional rehabilitative input, but driven by the need to craft a positive future. The paper explores under what circumstances a transformation narrative is most likely to emerge and whether such narratives have the power to make desistance more likely.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Schinkel, Dr Marguerite
Authors: Schinkel, M.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Sociology Anthropology and Applied Social Sciences
Journal Name:European Journal of Probation
Publisher:Sage Publications
ISSN:2066-2203
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2015 The Author
First Published:First published in European Journal of Probation 7(1):5-20
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record

Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
619601Lives sentenced: the punishment careers of persistent offendersMarguerite Lucil SchinkelEconomic & Social Research Council (ESRC)ES/K009389/1SPS - SOCIOLOGY