Comparing Desistance Processes: A Cross-National Analysis of English and French Narratives

This thesis compares processes of desistance from crime in England and France, in order to explore how individuals stop offending in distinct national, social, cultural, economic, and criminal justice settings. Processes of desistance in various settings have received increasing attention in the criminological literature. While empirical studies have been conducted in different countries, there is limited knowledge on desistance in a comparative lens and about how people stop offending in France. Data were obtained from 40 interviews with English and French men who had previous offending histories, were being supervised on probation, and had expressed a desire to stop offending. Cross-national comparison of narratives allows us to better discern the relationships between structural factors and individual behavioural change. This also allows us to examine the extent to which existing theories – mostly based upon data from the USA and the UK – are applicable in an under-researched setting with different characteristics. The analyses show certain similarities across the two groups, which are articulated in ways that explain underlying differences in the narratives, according to national contexts. These include different existential considerations, ways in which offending is recounted, types of support systems engaged with, and strategies of maintaining desistance. For instance, English desisters tended to focus on avoiding temptations of reoffending by keeping to themselves, whereas French desisters typically adopted conventional, sociable lifestyles. Varying pains and gains from probation were identified, which reflect different criminal justice philosophies. The findings highlight subjective dimensions of desistance, including a focus on emotions, what it feels like to stop offending, perceptions of the self and of one’s social world. This research contributes to better understanding the role of structural characteristics of national settings onto individual processes of behavioural change. The findings provide a more comprehensive picture of the role of national context in individual trajectories of desistance.