Sexual Crime and the Experience of Imprisonment

Description

This book focuses on the experience of imprisonment from the perspectives of individuals with sexual convictions. It stresses the importance of a positive and rehabilitative prison climate. The volume begins with an exploration of the theoretical underpinnings of a rehabilitative prison climate and discusses some of the practical ways of creating rehabilitative cultures in prisons housing people convicted of sexual offences. Four empirical chapters focus on the experience of stigmatisation, prison officers’ attitudes towards prisoners’ offences, negotiating the ‘sex offender’ identity in prisons and the varied experience of ‘being’ in prisons exclusively for individuals with sexual convictions. Throughout the authors discuss the specific benefits of peer-support, such as the chance to earn self-forgiveness, construct adaptive identities and consequently move away from harmful labels. The book also spotlights a chapter on the experience of imprisonment written by a former service-user, this unique position offers an insightful account of an individual’s journey through the prison system. Front Matter ....Pages i-xvii Rehabilitative Culture in Prisons for People Convicted of Sexual Offending (Ruth Mann, Georgia Barnett, George Box, Flora Fitzalan Howard, Oscar O’Mara, Rosie Travers et al.)....Pages 1-33 Impact of Prison Climate on Individuals with Sexual Convictions: Desistance and Rehabilitation (Jayson Ware, Jennifer Galouzis)....Pages 35-60 “Scum of the Earth”: Animus and Violence Against Sex Offenders in Canadian Penitentiaries (Ryan Scrivens, Rosemary Ricciardelli)....Pages 61-84 Prison Officers, Professionalism, and Moral Judgement (Alice Ievins)....Pages 85-108 ‘It Doesn’t Matter What You’ve Done You’re Accepted Here’: A Multi-Site Qualitative Exploration of the Experiences of Being Incarcerated in Prisons for Individuals with Sexual Convictions (Nicholas Blagden, Jake Jones, Kirsten Wilson)....Pages 109-141 Peer Support and Individuals with Sexual Convictions: Complementing Traditional Rehabilitation Strategies (Christian Perrin)....Pages 143-169 Serving Time in Two Prisons: A “Sex Offender’s” View of Life in “Local Cat B” and “Trainer” Prisons ( S)....Pages 171-193 Public Attitudes and Penal Policy in the Desistance Process for Sexual Offenders (Craig A. Harper)....Pages 195-218 Back Matter ....Pages 219-222