Work, support and solitude: prisoners’ desistance expectations and self-regulating strategies

Emma Villman

doi:10.1080/10509674.2020.1863299

Abstract

This article explores how prisoners plan to achieve desistance from crime. In many respects, prisoners have poor prospects upon their release. A prisoner’s chances of reintegration can be hindered by conditions such as structural barriers, lack of social support, and the after-effects of imprisonment. Using qualitative interviews with prisoners (N = 45) who were serving at open low-security prisons in Finland, this analysis demonstrates that the majority of the prisoners had optimistic expectations and devised concrete plans for desistance. To achieve this desired change, the prisoners intended to use three self-regulating strategies; to secure employment or another daily routine, to seek help from others, and to shift surroundings. Even if work, support, and solitude are viable strategies for achieving desistance from crime, this article recognizes the risk of these self-regulating strategies failing due to inherent uncertainties and weak implementation intentions.

Highlights

Within the field of desistance research, the importance of expectations in achieving desistance has attracted increasing attention in recent years
The further the analytical process developed, concepts from motivational theory and desistance theory—like volition, motivation, self-regulation, and “hooks of change”—were used for interpreting the themes. In their prerelease desistance expectations, prisoners clearly distinguished between the reasons to change and the planned or accomplished lifestyle changes that were a part of this transformation
This study shows the need for further research on prerelease expectations, especially concerning how motivation and self-regulation operate throughout the desistance process

Summary

Introduction

Within the field of desistance research, the importance of expectations in achieving desistance has attracted increasing attention in recent years. Prisoners’ desistance expectations have generated particular interest, indicating that a vast majority of prisoners assess their chances for desistance as good (Dhami et al, 2006; Kivivuori & Linderborg, 2010) and that a prisoner’s positive outlook for the future may be connected to actual desistance (Burnett & Maruna, 2004; Doekhie et al, 2017; Kivivuori et al, 2012; Souza et al, 2015). Researchers have found that optimistic desistance expectations are closely intertwined with other changes that prisoners aspire to, and these expectations are often framed as aspirations for creating a conventional life (Doekhie & Van Ginneken, 2020; Shapland & Bottoms, 2011). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

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