Adult offenders entangled in the criminal justice system in the United States have gained the attention of researchers over the years following the spike in mass incarceration, new rehabilitative programs, and criminal justice reform. Following the 1980s and 1990s restorative justice movement, the criminal justice system implemented an approach to unite victims, offenders, and communities as a way of bringing healing and reparation to those that are affected by crime. However, the vast majority of research on restorative justice focuses on juveniles who commit non-serious crimes and do not reside in the United States. Current literature examining the outcomes of restorative justice ignores the process of how these outcomes are achieved. Using Hirschi's (1969) social bond theory and Maruna's (2001) theory of desistance, the current study explores the family dynamics within family group conferencing of a sample of 17 adult offenders intertwined in the criminal justice system. Specifically, the study uses qualitative interviews from offenders who were a part of a conference and those who were not to examine the impacts conferencing has on familial relations and family dynamics. Findings suggest that self-narratives from offenders support positive familial relations, produce indicators of desistance, and shed light on various family dynamics.
Read
