Desistance and Societies in Comparative Perspective

Scholarly exploration into desistance from crime has focused on internal and external factors, neglecting the impact of societies and cultures. This book explores how these factors shape desistance processes and experiences in England and Israel, uncovering how social structures and cultures orient external and internal mechanisms. It outlines five contextual factors that shape desistance, providing a framework to understand the role of cultures and social structures in shaping agency and experiences.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 13 June 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Scholarly research has delved into the factors that contribute to individuals ceasing their criminal behavior, known as desistance from crime. This exploration has primarily focused on internal and external influences within the desistance process, while disregarding the broader social context that shapes an individual's perceptions and actions. To address this gap, this book delves into how societies and cultures shape desistance processes and experiences.

Desistance and Societies in Comparative Perspective presents findings from a cross-national comparative mixed-method study conducted in England and Israel, two countries with distinct social-political systems and cultural characteristics. This study stands as a pioneering effort in criminology, both in terms of its primary objectives and the methodologies employed. The findings shed light on how social structures and cultures influence individual-level experiences. Specifically, the findings illustrate how external and internal mechanisms in desistance processes align with contextual factors.

The book identifies five contextual factors that play a crucial role in shaping the dynamics of desistance across societies and cultures. These factors include cultural scripts, social climates, shared values and norms, social interactions, and distinct cultural characteristics. These five factors serve as a framework for understanding the role of cultures and social structures in shaping agency and experiences in desistance processes, as well as accounting for variations and similarities across different societies and cultures.

Written in a clear and accessible style, this book is intended for students and scholars in the fields of criminology and sociology. It offers valuable insights into the complex interplay between individuals, societies, and cultural factors, contributing to our understanding of desistance and its implications for crime prevention and justice.

Weight: 440g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032336305