The impacts of peer mentoring on desistance : a case study on SRACP peer mentoring programme in Hong Kong

Abstract

This research aims to find out the impacts of peer mentoring on desistance from drugs and crime by focusing on the peer mentoring programme in The Society of Rehabilitation and Crime Prevention in Hong Kong (SRACP). Eight criminogenic needs concerning recidivism, referred to as Central Eight, are used to understand the relationship between peer mentoring and desistance. They are: criminal history, alcohol/drugs problems, antisocial personality pattern, procriminal attitude, family/marital relationship, education/employment and leisure/recreation. By means of Central Eight, data collected from in-depth interviews with social workers, peer mentors and service users are critically analysed and discussed. Results show that peer mentoring is a double-edged sword that on the one hand, it does have positive influence on the desistance of both peer mentors themselves and service users. On the other hand, it may also bring about risks to peer mentors. Peer mentors who have synthesised their identities as a ‘peer mentor’ to embrace multiple identities as integrated whole, can resist temptations from their old circles and sharpen their blades to fight against recidivism.