Employment and Identity Development: Pathways to Desistance for Juvenile Offenders

Abstract This study examines the role of employment in the identity development and desistance from crime among juvenile offenders in Pakistan. Focused on 30 juveniles aged 13–17 participating in an eight-month paid employment program by the Social Welfare Organization (SWO) in Punjab, the research explores how structured tasks and mentorship foster societal reintegration. Through narrative analysis of interviews, observations, and probation officer reports, the study reveals that employment significantly supported the development of a prosocial identity. Participants distanced themselves from past offenses, envisioning a positive future, with enhanced skills, a sense of purpose, and improved self-perception. Community support and stronger familial bonds further reinforced these changes. However, challenges such as societal stigma and unstable post-program employment led some to reoffend. The study underscores the importance of structured employment in juvenile desistance and calls for further research on long-term impacts and strategies to sustain these transformations.