Peer Mentoring in Criminal Justice

Peer mentoring is a criminal justice intervention that involves community members with lived experiences of criminal justice working or volunteering to help people in rehabilitative settings. This book offers the first in-depth analysis of peer mentoring in criminal justice, drawing upon a rigorous ethnographic study of multiple community organizations in England. Five dominant themes are uncovered: identity, agency, values, change, and power. Peer mentoring offers mentors a practical opportunity to develop confidence, skills, and hope for the future, while offering inspiration, care, empathy, and practical support to others.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 13 June 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Peer mentoring is a growing trend in criminal justice, involving community members with firsthand experiences of the criminal justice system who provide support and guidance to individuals in rehabilitative settings. While peer mentoring has gained international recognition, research in this field remains limited. This book offers a comprehensive analysis of peer mentoring in criminal justice, drawing from a rigorous ethnographic study of multiple community organizations in England.

Through interviews with service providers and users, as well as observations of practice, the book identifies key features of criminal justice peer mentoring. These include identity, agency, values, change, and power. Identity is used as a tool to inspire change and elevate knowledge based on lived experiences. Agency emerges through peer dialogue, fostering a sense of self-direction and empowerment. Values, such as caring, listening, and taking small steps, form the foundation of mentoring relationships. Change is a challenging process, but mentors can play a crucial role in facilitating it through support, empathy, and practical guidance. Power dynamics are at play within mentoring relationships and within the broader contexts and ideologies surrounding peer mentoring.

Peer mentoring offers mentors a valuable opportunity for personal growth and development, while providing inspiration, care, empathy, and practical support to others. The book is written in a clear and accessible style, making it suitable for students and scholars in criminology, sociology, cultural studies, social theory, and those interested in learning more about this innovative approach to criminal justice.

Weight: 470g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032336794