An Exploration of Human and Social Capital Factors of Desistance for Female Offenders in Singapore

This study applies qualitative methods to understand factors that are relevant for desistance in women. The narratives of 12 women living in Singapore and in the community for the past five years were studied to uncover pathways to desistance. Using the concepts of Human and Social Capital adapted from the Good Lives Model, we found that the majority of women in this sample indicated values and internal capacities, self-efficacy, identity and connectedness to their religion as crucial to their continued stay in the community; congruent with the literature in North American studies. Additionally, all women mentioned their social capital as an important factor for recovery, indicating factors such as positive relationships and external support from stakeholders. Overall, this study illuminated several pathways that offer a deeper understanding of desistance for women exiting the criminal justice system.