A study on repeat offenders’ experience in society between prison sentences in Iceland
Author
Rodriguez Svönudóttir, Sara Ósk
Term
4. Term
Publication year
2015
Submitted on
2015-08-05
Pages
82
Abstract
Forskning peger på, at fængsling kan have negative følger, der øger risikoen for tilbagefald. Efter løsladelse kan det være svært at finde sig til rette i samfundet, genopbygge relationer og få adgang til arbejde på grund af stigmatisering. Dette speciale undersøger, hvordan gentagne lovovertrædere oplever livet i samfundet mellem fængselsdomme, og hvad der fører til nye lovbrud. To perspektiver bruges til at forstå resultaterne: socialbåndsteori (tætte bånd til familie, arbejde og fællesskab kan mindske kriminalitet) og stemplingsteori (at blive stemplet som kriminel kan forme identitet og muligheder). Der blev gennemført kvalitative interviews med tolv gentagne lovovertrædere i alderen 23–43 år, som på tidspunktet for studiet var indsatte i Sogn og Litla-Hraun fængsler i Island. Tilgangen var hermeneutisk fænomenologi, som fortolker menneskers levede erfaringer. Resultaterne viste, at deltagerne ikke så ud til at være permanent udelukket fra arbejdsmarkedet. Det var uklart, i hvilken grad relationer til familie og venner påvirkede tilbagefald. Derimod havde problemer med alkohol og stoffer en tydelig betydning for adfærd i samfundet. Deltagerne oplevede generelt sig selv som outsidere, blandt andet på grund af en forvrænget opfattelse af sociale normer og den stigmatisering, de mødte under reintegration. For disse deltagere fremstod det lettere at fortsætte deres kriminelle adfærd end at tilpasse sig som lovlydige borgere.
Research shows that incarceration can have negative effects that increase the risk of reoffending. After release, many people struggle to settle back into society, rebuild relationships, and access jobs due to stigma. This thesis explores how repeat offenders experience life in the community between prison sentences and what contributes to reoffending. Two perspectives guided the interpretation: social bond theory (strong ties to family, work, and community can reduce crime) and labeling theory (being labeled a criminal can shape identity and opportunities). The study used qualitative interviews with twelve repeat offenders aged 23–43 who were incarcerated at Sogn and Litla-Hraun prisons in Iceland. The research approach was hermeneutic phenomenology, which interprets how people make sense of their lived experiences. The findings suggest that participants did not appear to be permanently excluded from the labor market. It was unclear how much relationships with family and friends influenced reoffending. By contrast, alcohol and drug problems had a notable effect on behavior in society. Overall, participants felt like outsiders, partly because of a distorted view of social norms and the stigma they encountered during reintegration. For these participants, continuing criminal behavior seemed easier than adapting to life as law-abiding citizens.
[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]
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