The Role of Family Ties in Desistance from Crime

There is a general consensus in current research that desisting from crime (or ‘going straight’) can be a long, difficult and complex process, and that strong family ties can reduce the likelihood of reoffending. This paper explore why family ties might assist prisoners in building more positive futures, concluding that while families have an important role to play here, they should not be viewed solely as a potential ‘resource’ by the criminal justice system as many have their own needs that must be recognised.