impact in this way on your life would you speak with a professional? 5 ... will manage on release from prison after SOTP and if they feel supported â they don't.
Life After Offending The Relapse Prevention Forum Simon Duff, Lisa Wright, Lorraine Perry, Nick Wakefield, Sophie Valavanis, & Alex Hossack Mersey Forensic Psychology Service 1
Post-treatment, who officially supports sexual offenders living in the community?
2
Post-treatment, who officially supports sexual offenders living in the community?
GP
Probation Officer
Social Worker
Police Officer
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Post-treatment, who officially supports sexual offenders living in the community?
GP
Probation Officer
Social Worker
Police Officer
Of these sources of support how likely is an offender to consider that any honest discussion of concerns may not result in further ‘complications’ for them?
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‘Complications’ may include separation from the family reduced contact with children requirements for further intervention greater police scrutiny restrictions on movements increased visits from police and social workers breakdown of family life loss of work ...
These may occur singly or in multiples. If you knew that telling people about your thoughts, feelings, and actions might impact in this way on your life would you speak with a professional? 5
Some individuals may decide not to seek support – ‘defensive isolation’. This may have consequences; Their actual risk (+/-)
They perceive their risk as having increased They perceive their risk as having decreased They perceive their risk as remaining the same
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Some individuals may decide not to seek support – ‘defensive isolation’. This may have consequences; Their actual risk (+/-)
May result in greater risk of suicide, Pritchard and King (2005).
They perceive their risk as having increased They perceive their risk as having decreased They perceive their risk as remaining the same
May result in increased risk taking, reduced vigilance.
May result in failure to seek opportunities.
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Since 1995 graduates of the North West Community SOTP have asked for further support post-treatment in order to help them with; safe living concerns ‘near miss’ experiences the opportunity to discuss related topics (e.g., in the media) understanding and contextualising their risky behaviour managing their risk
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Since 1995 graduates of the North West Community SOTP have asked for further support post-treatment in order to help them with; safe living concerns ‘near miss’ experiences the opportunity to discuss related topics (e.g., in the media) understanding and contextualising their risky behaviour managing their risk
These themes tie in well with some recent research by Jamie Walton (‘sexual preference for children. An interpretative phenomenological analysis’ - University of Nottingham) examining how men identified as primary paedophiles think they will manage on release from prison after SOTP and if they feel supported – they don’t. 9
Recent discussions Reducing isolation Maintaining vigilance Seemingly irrelevant thoughts and actions The ‘void’ left after offending ceases Using deviant thoughts and fantasies to manage risk
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Recent discussions Reducing isolation Maintaining vigilance Seemingly irrelevant thoughts and actions The ‘void’ left after offending ceases Using deviant thoughts and fantasies to manage risk
The void
“…but there is a major risk factor that occurs post treatment and affects the quality of my life that is rarely talked about which is the ‘void’ left when offending stops…which to be brutally honest I miss…life is bland and the void remains.”
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Recent discussions Reducing isolation Maintaining vigilance Seemingly irrelevant thoughts and actions The ‘void’ left after offending ceases Using deviant thoughts and fantasies to manage risk
Using deviant thoughts
“…sometimes when there seems to be a build up, an urge, I fantasise and I masturbate, and that releases the pressure, and then I know I don’t need to offend…”
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By offering this service we can; Keep contact with men who may wish to act as paraprofessionals (see Hossack, 1999; Hossack & Wall, 2005), which may fill the ‘void’ Manage individuals who may be vulnerable post-treatment Develop an understanding of how relapse prevention is an evolving, dynamic, individual process Understand the needs and risks of post-treatment men (e.g., ‘the void’) Explore how typically risky aspects of behaviour (e.g., fantasy and masturbation) may become management strategies in treated men
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