The Experiences of Registered Citizens in the Community Regarding Treatment Post-Sanctions

• In Event: Advances in Sex Offense Policy Research: Social Contexts of Sexual Offending

Abstract

Sex offender treatment and therapy are available while offenders are in prison, on probation, or on parole, but little is known about what types of treatments sex offenders seek or need once they complete their sentences and return to the community. To assume that sex offenders need treatment while under formal sanctions and never need it again defies logic. The current study explored if sex offender registrants in the community sought out treatment post-sentence, if they could obtain it, why they felt they needed it, and if not, what did they do instead of treatment to deal with stress, triggers, urges, and the consequences of sex offender laws. To better understand sex offenders’ experiences with treatment in the community once they have fully completed their sentence we spoke to 65 registered sex offenders. This study developed out of a larger study exploring sex offender desistance that was initiated in 2009 and is ongoing. Through qualitative content analysis and a grounded theory approach, we uncovered several themes in the data. These will be discussed in terms of their policy implications. Overall, we have created an enduring longitudinal sample of registered citizens who we can reference about experiences with treatment in the community.

Authors

• Brooke Cooley, University of Nebraska at Omaha

• Lisa Sample, University of Nebraska at Omaha