Desistance : lessons learned for managing violent and sexual offenders

This chapter will consider the desistance model of offending and how it applies to work with violent and sexual offenders in the community. In recent years there has been increased interest in how offenders achieve desistance and what implications that might have for criminal justice interventions. This chapter focuses on the particular experiences of taking a desistance approach to work with violent and sex offenders. How an approach that emphasises working alongside offenders and building links with the community can be operationalised in work with a group of offenders who are considered to be dangerous and are often condemned and ostracised is presented.