The Prospects of Desistance post Transforming Rehabilitation; the prison and statutory supervision experiences of short term prisoners. A Qualitative study

The purpose of this study was to investigate what factors promote or compromise desistance to crime for those short-term ex-prisoners, often the most prolific offenders, who were subject to mandatory supervision on release following the implementation of Transforming Rehabilitation strategies from early 2015. The latest official statistics show an upwards trend in the proven reoffending rates for those released from short term custody following the implementation of mandatory supervision. Although numerous research studies have investigated the links between the prison environment and the desistance process or, the mandatory supervision experience and the desistance process, the researcher identified a gap in research relating to the desistance journey of the short term prisoner through the formal and informal support systems provided by the prison, the probation service and the third sector. This study was underpinned by desistance theories which provide a framework for understanding the processes which may determine the prospect of desisting from crime in the short and long term. A qualitative research approach was used within a social constructionist framework in order to investigate the perceptions of this cohort in terms of their experiences of prison life, formal offender management systems and informal support systems in the community. Data was obtained from primary sources via semi-structured interviews from four voluntary participants who fit the research criteria of; short-term prisoner released from custody after February 2015, were subject to and had completed mandatory supervision in the community. Summary of the Findings This study found evidence of a tick-box culture in the delivery of services underpinned by a punitive, risk-oriented, 'culture of control' focus which compromised the desistance process of the participants. The desistance process was also found to be compromised in the prison system by overcrowding, understaffing, cultural differences and poor communication between prison staff and partner agencies and this study also found, that the delivery of services were compromised by the neo-liberal principles of privatisation, competition and austerity measures. Age was found to be a significant factor in the desistance process for all the participants and, regardless of the negative environment within the prison and the negative experiences of mandatory supervision, three of the four respondents seized the opportunities available to them which gives weight to the theory of human agency as important in the desistance process. The findings reveal that the primary desistance process was initiated by holistic, person-centred interventions and maintained through the development of human and social capital, practical assistance, mentoring and continuity of care. Three of the participants moved from primary to secondary desistance markers via supportive interventions whilst the fourth, without positive intervention within formal offender management systems, reached primary desistance via third sector agencies. Implications The findings point to the need for a unified, national probation service, an overhaul of the prison system, a greater role for the third sector, mentoring and continuity of care