Desistance from crime: evidence from the Global South

• In Event: EDLC: desistance

Abstract

Criminal trajectories have predominantly been studied in relation to property crimes and from the perspective of the Global North. However, there is a dearth of evidence on the processes of desistance and persistence in drug crimes; and among young people, women, migrants, and within cultural contexts such as Latin America. In this region, structural, cultural, and political-criminal factors significantly influence the trajectories of individuals who initiate and abandon criminal careers.

This article synthesizes evidence from five studies conducted in Chile that explore the processes of desistance and persistence in criminal behavior. The first study is a longitudinal analysis employing mixed methods to examine the criminal trajectories of a sample of 341 adolescents from the juvenile justice system in Chile. The second study is a longitudinal follow-up of a cohort of 220 women for one year post-release from prison in Santiago. The third study utilizes retrospective life narratives to analyze the trajectories of 100 Latin American women convicted of drug crimes. The fourth study investigates intercultural aspects of desistance and persistence among young migrants convicted of crimes in Chile's northern border region. Both this study and another involving probation officers, employed in-depth interviews to examine the perspectives of those aiding in desistance and reintegration processes.

The findings reveal notable cultural particularities and aspects related to the nature of prevalent crimes in Chile, such as drug offenses. Additionally, the studies identify issues related to identity, gender roles, and structural barriers resulting from deep-seated social exclusion. The analysis also considers the applicability of desistance theories developed in Anglo-Saxon contexts, identifying new turning points in the criminal trajectories of the participants.

The conclusions address theoretical and criminal policy implications, essential not only for Latin America, but also for developing a Desistance Approach with intercultural relevance that incorporates an intersectional perspective.

Author

• catalina droppelmann, Pontificia Universidad Catolica Chile