ABSTRACT
This first analysis chapter sets out to compare how desisters in England and France narrated their past and framed their identities. Personal and social identities in a late modern age are continually evolving and constructed rather than fixed and pre-existing. Coherence in self-perception is achieved through a consistent and meaningful ‘narrative of the self’. Considering that desistance entails a fundamental change in individuals’ identities, it is important to explore how desisters expressed their sense of self. The aim of this chapter is to overview the sample and analyse desisters’ social realities and circumstances as they narrated. First, narratives of offending are analysed, including how English and French desisters recalled their past offences, with a focus on changes in self-perception. The analysis of narratives of offending provides insight into how participants framed their past to make sense of their present. Then, participants’ recollections of the start of their offending are compared. This includes age of first offence, childhood background, social circumstances, and other relevant contextual elements offered in the narratives. The state of their lives at the time of the interviews is overviewed, and common characteristics are presented, including employment status, any addictions, mental health issues, and religiosity. The purpose of this chapter is to introduce the participants and relevant aspects of their lives before delving into the analysis of desistance narratives in the next chapter.
