Abstract
Mentoring is an increasingly popular approach for supporting people who have a history of offending. Previous research provides some evidence that it may contribute to reductions in offending behaviour and support desistance from crime. The present study analysed interviews with 33 people who used mentoring services in Scotland to examine the relationships between mentoring, motivation and desistance. The findings suggest that the offer of mentoring may translate a general desire to change into motivation by providing the means to achieve this change. Mentoring may help people develop ‘hooks for change’ through practical assistance that leads to positive changes and by encouraging people see the value of such changes. Mentors can also model ways of being that outline possible future selves and services can structure in pro-social activities that support stakes in conformity. The article contributes to theoretical understandings of motivation and desistance by specifying the interplay of agency and structure.
Highlights
Mentoring has become a popular way of supporting people who have been involved in offending behaviour (Buck, 2020)
I coded the overall theme of ‘motivation’ into sub-themes relating to different stages of motivation and present these in order: (1) initial motivation to change, (2) the offer of mentoring as a motivating factor, and (3) how mentoring helps build and maintain motivation
In line with previous studies (Brown and Ross, 2010; Garcia, 2014; Kavanagh and Borrill, 2013; Walker and Bowen, 2015), several mentees reported a desire to change their lives for the better, with some stating that mentoring only works if people want to change
Summary
Mentoring has become a popular way of supporting people who have been involved in offending behaviour (Buck, 2020). Previous research suggests one way mentoring helps people to desist from crime is to motivate them to change (Buck, 2017; Mulholland et al, 2016). As described by Laub and Sampson (2003), desistance is ‘a result of a combination of individual actions (choice) in conjunction with situational contexts and structural influences linked to important institutions that help sustain desistance’ Such life changes include getting married, becoming a parent or getting a job (Laub and Sampson, 2003; Maruna and Farrall, 2004). Overall, ‘going straight’ seems to occur at the nexus of individual choices and actions, material conditions and contexts, and social interaction, together creating opportunities, laying pathways, and shaping a sense of self
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
