Supporting desistance from crime: The promise of psychedelic-assisted therapy in correctional and reentry contexts.

Abstract

This paper proposes a psychedelic theory of desistance, arguing that psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) may support the desistance from crime - the cessation of criminal behavior - by promoting identity transformation and personal meaning-making among criminal justice-involved individuals. Drawing from psychedelic science and desistance focused criminological theories, it suggests that, when administered within ethical and therapeutic frameworks, psychedelics can enhance self-reflection, emotional processing, and inner insight - mechanisms known to underlie sustained behavioral change. Because many individuals in the criminal justice system experience trauma, depression and substance dependence, PAT may offer a particularly relevant intervention. The paper contends that community-based, post-release settings are more appropriate and ethically defensible for PAT delivery than correctional institutions. While acknowledging that causal evidence on recidivism outcomes is currently lacking, it outlines the need for carefully designed pilot studies conducted in collaboration with clinicians and reintegration services. Using Czechia as a policy context, it offers a practical roadmap for both future research and practical implementation of PAT in marginalized - justice involved - populations. The central claim is that PAT should function as a complementary component within broader rehabilitation and reintegration strategies, supporting narrative and identity change necessary for long-term desistance from crime.

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