Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Eric Hickey

Abstract

Barriers to successful offender reintegration are important to address in treatment approach, and most of the information known about risk to reoffend is created by researchers, treatment providers, and victim experiences. Exploring and learning about the barriers experienced by sex offenders during the reintegration process can provide additional insight into sex offender treatment approaches, reentry processes, community beliefs, and legislation. The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify barriers that sex offenders experience during the reintegration process that may lead them to reoffending. The risk-need-responsivity framework was used to guide the interpretation of identified barriers. The sample consisted of 10 treatment providers who have worked with recidivated male sexual offenders. Thematic analysis was used to generate barriers from in-depth semi structured interviews to collect data from treatment providers who have worked with recidivated sex offenders. The participants were asked to provide barriers that were disclosed to them by sex offenders about their experience reintegrating, as well as their own observations about specific sex offender experiences. Findings indicated that the major barriers sex offenders mentioned experiencing were dynamic barriers rather than static barriers and are largely affected by external variables such as lack of community acceptance, lack of social/family support, decreased self-esteem, lack of purpose, and other barriers associated with restrictions placed on rehabilitating sexual offenders. These findings can be used to create improved treatment approaches, reentry plans, legislation, and preventative measures to reduce sexual offender recidivism.

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