Citation

Birgden A. Crim. Justice Behav. 2015; 42(1): 19-31.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0093854814550024

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The law can be a systemically induced decision point for offenders and can act to help or hinder desistance. Desistance can be described as a change process that may be initiated by decisive momentum, supported by intervention, and maintained through re-entry, culminating in a citizen with full rights and responsibilities. Desistance within courts, corrections, and beyond is maximized by applying the law in a therapeutic manner. In common, desistance, therapeutic jurisprudence, and human rights support offender autonomy and well-being. The intersections between the three models have been explored to propose a normative framework that provides principles and offers strategies to address therapeutic legal rules, legal procedures, and the role of psycholegal actors and offenders in initiating, supporting, and maintaining desistance.

Keywords: Juvenile justice

Language: en