Desistance from Crime Among Colombian Guerrilla Women: Determinant Subjective Factors

Abstract Desistance from criminal careers among guerrilla women in Colombia is a little-studied reality to date. The present study was undertaken to address this gap in the research, particularly in light of the high rates of post-disarmament recidivism. Specifically, a qualitative model was developed to identify desistance in a group of women linked to the guerrillas and currently in prison, close to having served out their alternative post-disarmament sentences under Law 975/2005. The model analyzed psychological and subjective factors in these women indicative of desistance, such as: the initiation of new projects, social ties, and feelings of remorse, self-efficacy, and self-control. These factors theoretically explain the women’s interest in staying away from criminal careers, as well as the risk of reoffending. The model was tested by conducting in-depth interviews with 20 women. As a general result, factors conducive to desistance from criminal careers were found to exist for 60% of the interviewed women, while 40% of the cases were at risk of recidivism.