Relationships, motherhood and female desistance: Constructions of post-release lives

• In Event: Romantic Relationships and Criminal Offending

Abstract

As the number of Dutch females (re)entering the justice system has grown considerably over the past few years, increasing attention is being paid to factors promoting females’ desistance from criminal behavior upon re-entry. Although the influence of life events, most notably intimate relationships and motherhood, on crime and desistance is widely acknowledged, the mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. The current study aims to qualitatively examine the influence of romantic relationships and motherhood on desistance in a sample of formerly incarcerated women. All women were released from prison in 2007; some of them managed to stay away from crime afterwards, while others re-offended and/or were re-incarcerated in the years following 2007. Drawing from semi-structured interviews, we assess the constructions of their post-release lives, their efforts to move away from crime and the influence of children and intimate partners in this process. Results reinforce the idea that women face many challenges upon release, hampering their transition back into the community. Importantly, findings show that the influence of having children and/or an intimate partner largely depends on the circumstances surrounding the women and the characteristics of these relationships.

Authors

• Elanie Rodermond, Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR) / Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

• Anne-Marie Slotboom, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

• Catrien Bijleveld, Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement

• Candace Kruttschnitt, University of Toronto