ABSTRACT
The purpose of this chapter is to investigate the use of music, within but also outside of the secure estate, as a means to encourage rehabilitation, reintegration, diversion and desistance specifically focusing on how this has been and is currently used with young people in conflict with the law. This is done through examining previous research that has been conducted in this area, but the highlight is specifically on projects that are run by one of the authors (Boreland). This chapter shows what benefits there are in using this approach in terms of desistance from offending, but also for the young person more broadly. Some of the challenges that accompany this work are also considered, and the chapter concludes with suggestions of good practice. The chapter begins by placing the current emphasis on desistance into the wider history of approaches to youth justice.
