Towards a rhizomatic understanding of the desistance journey

PHILLIPS, Jake (2017). Towards a rhizomatic understanding of the desistance journey. The Howard Journal Of Crime and Justice, 56 (1), 92-104.

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Abstract

Although the ‘desistance as a (zigzag) journey’ metaphor has proved useful in terms of translating theory into practice, this article makes the case that it is insufficient for conveying the truly complex, social, unpredictable and ‘messy’ process of desistance from crime. The article uses what we know about the process of desistance to discuss the utility of Deleuze and Guattari’s (2013) rhizomatic theory in recasting the desistance journey metaphor. In doing so it is suggested that the desistance journey should be understood in terms of its endless and multiplicitous nature, a symbol of metamorphosis, and it argues that our focus should be on understanding the ‘desister as nomad’. This, the article concludes, holds important ramifications for the way in which we understand and implement desistance-focused practice in the criminal justice system.

Item Type:	Article
Research Institute, Centre or Group - Does NOT include content added after October 2018:	Law Research Group
Departments - Does NOT include content added after October 2018:	Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities > Department of Law and Criminology
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1111/hojo.12193
Page Range:	92-104
Depositing User:	Jake Phillips
Date Deposited:	15 Nov 2016 13:53
Last Modified:	18 Mar 2021 01:00
URI:	https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/14010

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