Att lyckas när oddsen talar emot : Hur lämnar man gängkriminaliteten-den enda gemenskapen?

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this study was to create a deeper understanding for, and shine a light on the exit process for former criminal gang members. Which conditions appear to be important and what may constitute the enabling and inhibiting factors of an exit process? The study was based on qualitative semi-structured interviews with respondents who themselves have experience of a criminal lifestyle and gang affiliation, and with professionals in social work. Our theoretical approach is based on Helen Ebaugh’s definition of an exit process, labeling theories, strain theory and control theory. Said theories are usually an explanation for why an individual develops and remains in a criminal behavior. We used these theories in an opposite way, that is, as a model to explain how the way out of crime could look like.   The conclusion is that the process of leaving a criminal lifestyle and gang affiliation behind is complex. The criminal lifestyle means a marginalized position and limited resources linked to the conventional society. Throughout the process, the individual must, despite the difficulties, choose the legal options and be sustainable even if emotions like loneliness and disorientation arises. For individuals the way out of crime leads to a role change, to learn again. This indicates in our conclusions of the importance of including assistance in working with their criminal thinking patterns and behavior, orderly housing situation and livelihood as well as the importance of a supportive social network. Individuals who have been part of a criminal gang often have a unique support needs based on the environment they have been in, and not least by the sense of community and identity that the gang has meant to them.   Motivation and their willpower is portrayed as the most central means to cope with the exit process. The absence of one or more conditions increases the risk for the individual to fail while the access to conditions alone is not enough. The right conditions at the right time seems to appear as the key to generate a successful change process.