Abstract
A growing body of literature assesses the relationship between fatherhood and criminal justice outcomes, including recidivism. Minimal research views this relationship within the context of substance use disorders (SUDs), a common and critical complication to desistance pathways. Using a longitudinal sample, we assess the relationship between fatherhood and desistance both quantitatively ( n = 177) and qualitatively ( n = 60). Finding null results in survival analyses, our analysis focuses primarily on our in-depth interviews, which shed light on the complicated juxtaposition between positive fatherhood identities and barriers to child reunification. We find that fatherhood provides a motivating source of positive identity, but fractured relationships with children and co-parents impact the actualization of parenting goals.
Published Version
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