From Adrenaline to Routine; Understanding the Motivations and Key Influences for Leaving a Criminal Lifestyle

Abstract

This study investigates the experiences of individuals who have left a criminal lifestyle and
the factors influencing their journey. Through interviews with both individuals active in a
criminal lifestyle and those who have successfully transitioned to a law-abiding life, this
research explores the motivations for leaving a criminal lifestyle and the challenges faced
during this process. Key findings indicate that imprisonment often serves as a significant
trigger for change, providing a structured break from criminal networks and allowing
individuals to reconnect with family. Family support, particularly from mothers and children,
plays a crucial role in sustaining the transition away from crime. However, this thesis also
highlights the difficulties encountered post-incarceration, including the struggle to replicate
the stability of prison life, financial difficulties, and the challenge of reshaping one's identity.
The process of leaving crime involves not just to cease with illegal activities but also
undergoing a profound transformation of self-perception. The narratives reveal that while
humour and family support assist in navigating this complex journey, maintaining a new, lawabiding identity requires ongoing effort and adaptation. The findings of this thesis underscore
the multifaceted nature of this transition and the importance of both internal and external
support systems for achieving a lasting transformation.

Popular Abstract

The aim of this study is to understand what triggers an individual to leave a criminal lifestyle
and what factors that supports the individual after leaving their previous lifestyle.
By interviewing individuals who still are engaged in, and those who have left a criminal
lifestyle, this research reveals that leaving a criminal lifestyle behind is a complex process that
often includes setbacks and requires strong motivation. In this study, many participants said
that one reason that they left their criminal lifestyle was imprisonment. Many of the
interviewed had already started questioning their criminal lifestyle before being incarcerated,
but they didn’t know how to take the step. For some, prison provided a way out by slowly
fading out from their previous network. This separation allowed them to reconnect with their
families, especially their children, and consider a different future.
Family support, particularly from mothers and children, was crucial in helping these
individuals stay away from relapsing in a criminal lifestyle. Many spoke about how their
mothers were a major reason for wanting to change, and fathers expressed a deep desire to be
better role models for their children, despite feeling guilty for their past absences. Rebuilding
these relationships became a key motivation for maintaining a law-abiding lifestyle. However,
the transition was not without challenges. The structure and routine of prison life is difficult to
replicate outside, and some missed the excitement of their former lives. Financial difficulties
also created a problem, as finding steady, well-paying work with a criminal record is tough.
For someone used to fast, easy money, the adjustment to a legal job could be frustrating.
Leaving a criminal lifestyle involves more than just stop doing illegal activities, it requires a
deep change in the individual’s identity. Those in this study had to rethink how they saw
themselves and had to work hard to build a new sense of self, often using humour to cope
with the emotional challenges of starting over. This journey is difficult, but with support and
determination, it is possible to create a new, law-abiding life

• author: Bjerregaard, Agnes
• supervisor: Sebastien Tutenges
• organization: Sociology
• course: CCRM20 20241
• year: 2024
• type: H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
• subject: Social Sciences
• keywords: Desistance, Identity Transformation, Prison, Family Support, Criminal Lifestyle
• language: English
• id: 9175166
• date added to LUP: 2024-09-23 11:43:00
• date last changed: 2024-09-23 11:43:00