Comparing Pathways of Desistance: An International Perspective

This book presents a comparative study of desistance from crime by analysing and comparing the narratives of English and French desisters. In doing so, it uncovers how national and structural differences may lead to varying individual pathways out of crime.

Comparing Pathways of Desistance draws on the themes of family, education, onset of offending, employment, offending, experiences and perspectives of the criminal justice system, stories of desistance, support networks, and projections into the future. In addition, this book also explores topics that are less commonly looked at in desistance studies such as ambitions of entrepreneurship and leisure activities. It examines the ways in which people make sense of their experiences of offending and desisting, identifies differences and similarities between English and French desisters, and reflects on how these differences and similarities inform us on the influences of national contexts on individual pathways of desistance.

An accessible and compelling read this book will appeal to students and scholars of criminology, sociology, desistance, politics, social policy and all those interested in the differences between English and French desisters.

Ruwani Fernando is a lecturer and early career researcher at Sheffield Hallam University. Her research seeks to explore desistance from crime from a cross-national comparative lens to better understand processes of change. Ruwani has been involved in research about desistance, rehabilitation, probation, and prison resettlement, in both the UK and France.