A life sentence in installments: a qualitative analysis of repeat offending among short-sentenced offenders

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Lievesley, R. ORCID: 0000-0003-4957-258X, Winder, B. ORCID: 0000-0002-9118-679X, Norman, C. ORCID: 0000-0003-3317-8545 and Banyard, P. ORCID: 0000-0003-2527-0755, 2017. A life sentence in installments: a qualitative analysis of repeat offending among short-sentenced offenders. Victims & Offenders. ISSN 1556-4886

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Official URL: http://doi.org/10.1080/15564886.2017.1354112

Abstract

Short sentenced (less than 12 months) offenders in the UK consistently account for the greatest number of discharges from prison and demonstrate the highest risk and rate of reoffending. Moreover, until recent changes in UK legislation in 2015, individuals serving short sentences were released into the community with little support post-release. The current study presents an exploration of (re)offending in individuals who have already served multiple short sentences in custody and aims to understand their experiences, perceptions and insight into their offending. Is there anything apropos short sentences specifically, or those who continually serve them, that can explain the high rates of reoffending in this population? Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight prisoners currently serving short custodial sentences. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was implemented deriving three superordinate themes from the rich dataset: (i) Living short sentences, (ii) You'd do the same if you were me; and (iii) Negotiating an identity.

Item Type:

Journal article

Publication Title:

Victims & Offenders

Creators:

Lievesley, R., Winder, B., Norman, C. and Banyard, P.

Publisher:

Taylor & Francis

Date:

18 August 2017

ISSN:

1556-4886