Restoring identity: the use of religion as a mechanism to transition between an identity of sexual offending to a non-offending identity

This study examines the unique experience of participants who during their reintegration back into the community, following a conviction for sexual offending, re-engaged with religious and spiritual communities. To explore meaning Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was adopted. Four in-d...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Kewley, Stephanie (Author) ; Beech, Anthony R. (Author) ; Harkins, Leigh (Author) ; Larkin, Michael (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2017
In: Criminology & criminal justice
Year: 2017, Volume: 17, Issue: 1, Pages: 79-96
Online Access: Presumably Free Access
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Keywords:
Community reintegration
Desistance
Sexual offender
Description
Summary:This study examines the unique experience of participants who during their reintegration back into the community, following a conviction for sexual offending, re-engaged with religious and spiritual communities. To explore meaning Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was adopted. Four in-depth interviews of men convicted for sexual crimes were undertaken and analysed. Findings indicate that through religious affiliation participants were: exposed to new prosocial networks; provided opportunities to seek forgiveness; felt a sense of belonging and affiliation; and were psychologically comforted. However, the study also found that the process of identity transition from ‘offender’ to ‘non-offender’ was not seamless or straightforward for those with an innate sexual deviancy towards children, caution is therefore advised.
ISSN:1748-8966
DOI:10.1177/1748895816654530