JOURNAL ARTICLE

"Disincarcerating incarcerated emotions": The influence of emotional dynamics behind and beyond bars on desistance from crime.

  • Published In: Criminology & Criminal Justice: An International Journal, 2024, v. 24, n. 3. P. 550 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Stoll, Aurélie 3 of 3

Abstract

This article examines how emotional mechanisms experienced during incarceration influence desistance from crime among 24 individuals convicted and released from prisons in French-speaking Switzerland. Based on 50 interviews and six written testimonies, it identifies three key affective states shaped by imprisonment—delimited (restricted), dissimulated (hidden), and discredited (stigmatized) emotions—that contribute to emotional closure during detention. The study highlights that successful desistance after release requires a gradual emotional (re)opening to oneself, others, and society, which is often hindered by structural, relational, and emotional barriers. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing these emotional dynamics within criminal justice policies and practices to better support individuals' pathways away from crime.

Additional Information

  • Source:Criminology & Criminal Justice: An International Journal. 2024/07, Vol. 24, Issue 3, p550
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Law
  • Publication Date:2024
  • ISSN:1748-8958
  • DOI:10.1177/17488958221133460
  • Accession Number:178584042
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Criminology & Criminal Justice: An International Journal is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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