Peer work and peer mentoring are dynamic social processes that have reciprocal benefits for both mentor and mentee in tackling issues around reoffending and substance misuse. Narratives of peer mentors and desistance were collected from probation peer mentors, Criminal Justice Drugs Team mentors and health trainers, to explore identity transformation and how the criminal justice system supports ex-offenders in desistance. Criminal justice practitioners were also interviewed to explore the importance of relational support networks. Themes that emerged from the research include the transformative potential of peer work and how peer workers can become role models for other offenders. Peer workers are ‘experts by experience’, using personal narratives of desistance to inspire hope in others. Influential criminal justice personnel are key to this process. Peer work can be the start of building a desisting identity, acting as a ‘hook for change’. Peer workers are given spaces within criminal justice organisations to work, which fosters a sense of purpose, belonging, trust and responsibility. Seeing ex-offenders from a strengths-based perspective is integral to supporting ex-offender transition. However, peer workers are inconsistently validated by criminal justice personnel, which can impede their desistance, placing them in a liminal position.

中文翻译：

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“回馈并继续我的生活”：前罪犯的同伴指导、停止和恢复

同伴工作和同伴指导是动态的社会过程，在处理有关再犯罪和药物滥用的问题时，对指导者和受指导者都有互惠的好处。从缓刑同伴导师、刑事司法毒品团队导师和健康培训师那里收集了同伴导师和停止的叙述，以探索身份转变以及刑事司法系统如何支持前罪犯停止。还采访了刑事司法从业人员，以探讨关系支持网络的重要性。研究中出现的主题包括同伴工作的变革潜力以及同伴工作者如何成为其他罪犯的榜样。同龄人是“经验专家”，使用个人的抗拒叙述来激发他人的希望。有影响力的刑事司法人员是这一过程的关键。同伴工作可以是建立一个反对身份的开始，充当“改变的钩子”。刑事司法组织内的同龄人获得了工作空间，从而培养了使命感、归属感、信任感和责任感。从基于优势的角度看待前罪犯是支持前罪犯过渡不可或缺的一部分。然而，刑事司法人员对同龄人的验证不一致，这可能会阻碍他们的停止，使他们处于临界位置。从基于优势的角度看待前罪犯是支持前罪犯过渡不可或缺的一部分。然而，刑事司法人员对同龄人的验证不一致，这可能会阻碍他们的停止，使他们处于极限位置。从基于优势的角度看待前罪犯是支持前罪犯过渡不可或缺的一部分。然而，刑事司法人员对同龄人的验证不一致，这可能会阻碍他们的停止，使他们处于临界位置。