RT Article
T1 Redeeming desistance: From individual journeys to a social movement
JF Criminology
VO 63
IS 1
SP 5
OP 25
A1 Maruna, Shadd
LA English
YR 2025
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1925339165
AB Early desistance research identified a key role for redemption scripts in the process of desisting from crime. This research emerged in an incredibly punitive environment at the turn of the century, when core beliefs about human redeemability were being challenged by popular and academic theories about incorrigible predators incapable of change. Desistance research made a profound impact, inspiring academic scholarship and changes to the policy and practice of reintegration. However, desistance research can also be accused of numerous crimes, as well, ranging from the adoption of an overly individualistic framing to the usurpation of the voices of research contributors. Fortunately, redemption is possible. A new generation of desistance theory and research now explicitly addresses the political and cultural factors impacting the desistance process and proposes that these hardened prejudices will only be changed by supporting a social movement led by and for system-impacted people. With their proven ability to inspire hope and promote action, redemption scripts may, again, be a key tool in such a movement.
K1 credible messengers
K1 Desistance
K1 Lived experience
K1 Narrative
K1 Social Movements
DO 10.1111/1745-9125.12393