Co-authoring desistance narratives: Analysing interactions in groupwork for addressing sexual offending

Mullins, Eve; Kirkwood, Steve

Abstract

Research and theory suggest desistance narratives and pro-social identities are key to the process of desistance from crime. However, little research has examined how desistance narratives and related identities are produced in contexts other than research interviews or how core correctional skills intersect with the development of these narratives or identities. This study applies discourse analysis and conversation analysis to transcripts of 12 video-recordings of groupwork sessions for addressing sexual offending, examining how desistance narratives and identities are produced, and how practitioner skills and conversational styles intersect with their production. The analysis illustrates how criminal justice practitioners help to co-author desistance narratives through subtle and explicit aspects of interaction, although certain orientations to risk may limit this potential.

Citation

Mullins, E., & Kirkwood, S. (2021). Co-authoring desistance narratives: Analysing interactions in groupwork for addressing sexual offending. Criminology and Criminal Justice, 21(3), https://doi.org/10.1177/1748895819863101

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 11, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Jul 24, 2019
• Publication Date: Jul 1, 2021
• Deposit Date: Jul 3, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 24, 2019
• Journal: Criminology & Criminal Justice
• Print ISSN: 1748-8958
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 21
• Issue: 3
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1748895819863101
• Keywords: Desistance, probation, narrative, conversation analysis
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/1932065
• Contract Date: Jul 3, 2019