The common denominator of these concepts is that they all imply a gradual change/shift from one situation to another, more desirable situation which takes place in and affects different areas of one’s life. The focus of our study is situated at the intersection between several closely related, but nonetheless distinct strengths-based concepts such as recovery, inclusion and desistance. Footnote 1 Furthermore, we aim to investigate how and to what extent this period in the CI influenced their trajectories towards change. In this study, we retrospectively shed light on adolescents’ experiences from the moment they were ‘detained’ until 6 to 12 months after they left the closed institution for mandatory care and treatment (CI). As such, we combine the focus of desistance research on socially desirable outcomes, with a more client-centered perspective, focusing on quality of life. The present study aims to highlight adolescents’ experiences, with a focus on positive aspects and strengths, on their way to ‘better’ lives-both from a personal and normative point of view.
Listening to the stories and experiences of detained adolescents may provide us with a better understanding about what supports them in their desistance process, but also-and maybe even more importantly-inform us more broadly on what is meaningful to them, and what contributes to the acquisition and development of a good (quality of) life. However, in the group of adolescents who have been ‘detained’, little is known about what they perceive as personally valuable and meaningful.
Supporting offenders in pursuing their goals is, from a GLM point of view, inextricably entangled with motivating them towards leading a ‘good life’-a personally valuable and meaningful life, within the contours of what is socially acceptable. The GLM encompasses a dual focus on both enhancing offenders’ wellbeing, while at the same time reducing their risk of re-offending. The GLM is a theoretical rehabilitation framework originally developed for adult offenders, that has recently been studied and theoretically discussed in relation to adolescent populations as well. The Good Lives Model of Offender Rehabilitation (GLM) is a holistic strengths-based approach in the field of correctional services and forensic care. In recent years, this has been complemented with strengths-based approaches, focusing on both offenders’ risks and needs, as well as their wellbeing and capacities. Research and practice in the field of forensic youth care have traditionally been characterized by a problem-oriented approach and a predominant focus on reducing the risk of reoffending. Furthermore, we stress the importance of helping adolescents in overcoming structural barriers as a first step in supporting them in their trajectories towards better lives. This stresses the importance of targeting rehabilitation towards prosocial goals and enhancing adolescents’ quality of life on those life domains that matter most for them. ConclusionsĪdolescents’ narratives suggest that starting a journey towards a normative good life often goes along with an initial difficult period because of a sense of loss with regard to their former life. Adolescents highly emphasize the importance of feeling closely connected to at least one person to receive practical help with regard to finances, work and housing and to be able to experience pleasure and joy in their lives. Most adolescents are on their way to finding a new balance in life, however, for a subgroup of them, this is still fragile. Resultsįive themes and corresponding subthemes were identified: (1) adolescents’ own strengths and resilience, (2) re-building personally valued lives, (3) making sense of past experiences, (4) moving away from a harmful lifestyle, and (5) (in-)formal supports. A thematic analysis was performed using NVivo 11. In-depth interviews were conducted with 25 adolescents (both boys and girls, 15–18 years old) on average 8 months after discharge from a closed institution in Belgium. The current study aimed to retrospectively explore adolescents’ experiences from the moment they were detained until 6 to 12 months after they left the institution, identifying positive aspects and strengths.
Knowledge on how detention and the subsequent period in the community is experienced by adolescents, and which elements are helpful in achieving better lives can contribute to this emerging field. Currently, the risk-oriented focus in forensic youth care is increasingly complemented by a growing interest in strengths-based approaches.
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