| dc.description.abstract | Background: A relatively new approach in criminology is the focus on desistance from crime. Since adolescent friendships have been proved to be of major influence on the etiology of delinquency, it is important to examine their role in desistance. Also, professional interventions are often of great importance to the life of the young offenders. Although research had been done on the effect of these programs, on reducing recidivism (desistance), not much attention has been given the inclusion or influence therein of friendships. Aim: This study investigates what brings about changes in friendship networks important to desistance, and how interventions may influence these changes. Method: Seventeen in-depth interviews with ex-offenders aged 19 to 36 years have been analysed. Conclusion: Important changes in the friendship network of a desister are facilitated by cognitive transformations (shifts) in the decreasing susceptibility to influence of friends, the revaluating of delinquent friendships and increasing the interest in developing more prosocial friendships. Although respondents mainly evaluate interventions as not being useful, programs that involve friends and social networks do appear to be of influence to the process of desistance. To what degree they contribute to the changes in friendships, depends on the extent in which desisters bring the learned skills into practice. | |
