State Intervention, risk and resistance

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State Intervention, risk and resistance

• Leigh Dunkerton
• (Sheffield University)

European Society of criminology conference August
2004
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Introduction

• Aims
• Sample
• Methodology

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2 Themes for discussion

• YP conversations about interventions
• Desistance

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Interventions through school ambivalent Views
of alternative provision

• Labelling
• Controlling
• BUT
• Safe
• Flexible
• Respect
• Supportive

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Young peoples conversations around YOT
Interventions

• Should interventions be remembered?
• What is the significance for the YP?

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Young peoples conversations around YOT
Interventions

• YP It was a triangle and you need all three of
  those corners for a fire. You need food to feed
  it and then you need something to light it, and
  then you need oxygen.
• L It goes over your head. If someone talks at
  you for a long time.
• YP It just goes out, but if its physical where
  you have to get up and draw the triangle with him
  and then he tells you for write it, it sticks in
  your head then.

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Desistance is difficult

• Violence as necessity
• Unpredictability
• Complex lives
• Risk as protection
• Desistance as process

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Motivations for desistance

• growing up
• guilt
• fear of prison
• critical incidents

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Strategies for active resistance

• Resisting temptation
• Staying in
• Changing activities/friends
• Living somewhere else

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Emerging Messages for interventions

• Complex lives
• Learning styles
• Respect
• Support YP active resistance
• Limiting nature of professional boundaries
• Limited impact of minimal contact