“I Need to Say Something About it at Some Point“. Disclosure Challenges for Men with Multiple Sexual Crime Convictions

• In Event: Narrative Criminology #3: Time, Shame and Stigma in the Narratives of Men Who Have Sexually Offended

Abstract

People convicted of child sexual offenses face one of the most stigmatizing labels in modern society. Their ability to hide this label is restricted, even in countries without public registration or notification. This study explores how anticipated stigma influences men in their preparation for reintegration and community reentry. The sample consists of men who have reoffended sexually so their need to prepare for social stigma might be especially pronounced due to prior experience. Moreover, their relapse might serve to confirm the stereotypical perceptions of others, thus increasing the likelihood of negative responses. In this study, 16 currently incarcerated “sexual recidivists” were interviewed twice using The Life History Interview Protocol, supplemented by more specific questions about their recidivism process and stigma experiences. Investigation of their hopes and fears for the future established stigma as a significant imagined obstacle to reintegration and a fulfilling life. Disclosing their offending history in personal and professional relationships appeared as the most daunting task. Attempts to solve these interpersonal issues involved revisiting past experiences where strategies like secrecy or withdrawal had turned out to be insufficient or unsuccessful. Findings suggest that correctional interventions should aim to help individuals prepare, cognitively and practically, for disclosure upon release.

Author

• Ingeborg Jenssen Sandbukt, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Norway