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13 Theoretical Criminology 5 (2009)

handle is hein.journals/thcr13 and id is 1 raw text is: Theoretical Criminology 0 2009 SAGE Publications - Los Angeles, London, New Delhi and Singapore www.sagepublications.com I Vol. 1 3(1): 5-8; 1 362-4806 DOI: 10.1177/1362480608100170 Explorations in theories of desistance Societal-level approaches to reform An introduction STEPHEN FARRALL Sheffield University, UK Studies of why people stop offending have repeatedly found various associ- ations between, for example, changes in individual lifestyles, adaptive approaches, levels of criminal engagement and patterns of offending (e.g. Maruna, 2001; Giordano et al., 2002; Farrall, 2005). Many such studies have, understandably, focused on the individual as the unit of analysis. It is the ex-prisoner's desire to 'go straight', the reforming drug user's wish to 'make good' or the aging criminal's inability to cope with the lifestyle asso- ciated with crime which greatly influences the nature of their eventual desis- tance. These studies have helped to illuminate a range of important facets of desistance, including motivation (Cusson and Pinsonneault, 1986), the role of hope (e.g. Burnett and Maruna, 2004) and the notion of 'burn out' (Shover, 1983). Whilst such studies have undoubtedly increased our under- standing of desistance, to varying degrees, and certainly by no means com- pletely, they leave in the empirical and theoretical shadows the role of the wider society in shaping trajectories of desistance. This collection of six essays seeks to remedy this situation.' Certainly much good work has already started to chart these processes- Sampson and Laub's (1993) contribution being the most obvious example. This collection, as well as seeking to explore and throw further light upon the macro-level processes associated with desistance, is able to engage with a number of new themes in resettlement and reform following punishment which have recently emerged. In the context of this collection, these include McEvoy and Shirlow's study of ex-paramilitaries and their engagement in processes of political leadership. Similarly, the essay by Rowbotham exploring Victorian and Edwardian strategies for promoting desistance highlights approaches to the reform of criminals which differ from the punitiveness and vitriol which 5

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