What works and what doesn’t? The lived responsivity experience of incarcerated men who have sexually recidivated

• In Event: Sex offenders

Abstract

The risk-need-responsivity (RNR) principles of effective correctional intervention comprise the best evidence-supported guidelines for reducing recidivism risk in individuals who have committed crimes, including those convicted of sexual offenses. Although recidivism rates for sexual offending are generally low, some individuals do reoffend after being released from prison. As “sexual recidivists”, they pose a statistically higher recidivism risk and often have more complex criminogenic needs. However, less is known about what they believe makes interventions motivating, engaging, and useful. This study therefore qualitatively examines the lived “responsivity” experiences of 23 men impacted by the wider system of correctional intervention for years and multiple periods. The findings show that useful interventions are characterized by “predictability”, “entirety”, and “insight-promoting delivery”. The men described valued deliverers (professional “facilitators”) as being able to see them, meet them at their level of readiness, and ultimately facilitate insight and change. Practical implications are discussed concerning how individuals with sexual recidivism histories may be assisted in their desistance processes. The overall results support the notion that the stigma surrounding sexual offending can serve as a responsivity issue and, in this regard, I argue that the “recidivist” status may necessitate particular specific responsivity efforts from professionals.

Author

• Ingeborg Jenssen Sandbukt, Oslo University Hospital