Identity Change in the Context of Reentry

• In Event: The Role of Perceptions Towards Law Enforcement, Crime Suppression, and the Reentry Process

Abstract

Theories of desistance emphasize identity transformation as a key step in the process, often conceptualized as a linear shift from a criminal to a prosocial identity. However, existing research largely overlooks the fact that a person can have multiple identities, that are derived from from multiple reference groups and the potential for a shift from a criminal identity to a prosocial identity can revert back to a criminal identity. This study examines identity changes during reentry, focusing on how self-perceived and externally attributed criminal identities evolve over time. Using data from the Reintegration, Desistance, and Recidivism Among Female Inmates in Chile (RDFC) study, which follows a cohort of women after release from prison, we analyze the stability and malleability of identity across different social reference groups (self, family, and neighbors). Results indicate that while self-perceptions of delinquency remain relatively stable, perceptions attributed to family and neighbors exhibit fluctuation. We also analyze how changes in identity relate to subsequent criminal offending. By highlighting the interplay between multiple identities and their reversion, this study underscores the role of social context in identity transformation during the process of reentry and desistance.

Authors

• Pilar Larroulet, Rutgers University

• Holly Nguyen, Pennsylvania State University