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Lindegren S. Looping Disruption: A Relational Mechanism Enhancing Treatment Readiness among Individuals Convicted of Sexual Offending? SEXUAL ABUSE : A JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND TREATMENT 2023:10790632231224380. [PMID: 38154817 DOI: 10.1177/10790632231224380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Many convicted individuals do not enter or complete treatment programs in prisons, which limits effective rehabilitation and prevention of recidivism. Treatment readiness is suggested to be an important construct when addressing this problem. Nevertheless, the underlying processes (e.g., how readiness factors interact) are not well studied, and even less is known regarding readiness in the sub-population of individuals convicted of sexual offenses. This paper aims to open up the "black box" and explore psychosocial and context-specific processes behind treatment readiness from the vantage point of the individuals' lived experiences. In-depth interviews were conducted with 19 adult men convicted of sexual offenses in Swedish prisons, treatment participants (N = 13) as well as non-participants (N = 6). The thematic analysis illustrates readiness obstacles in terms of unintended antagonistic forces in the correctional system operating in the opposite direction of rehabilitative objectives. Nonetheless, a hypothesized relational mechanism, looping disruption, initiated by a non-punitive and supportive response (from prison staff, therapists, close ones, or inmates) to the convicted individual's negative behaviors or emotions, appeared to reverse such negative, punitive loops, contributing to the mobilization of treatment readiness. Implications for theory, policy, and practice are discussed.
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Wuyts E, De Boeck M, Dilliën T, Merckx L, Uzieblo K, De Koster K, De Schutter A, Goethals K. Separate units for incarcerated people who committed sexual offenses: luxury or necessity? Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1111436. [PMID: 37304445 PMCID: PMC10248011 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1111436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The policy on treatment of people who commit sexual offenses (PSOs) varies greatly across countries, creating different treatment environments. This study was conducted in Flanders (i.e., the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium) where PSOs receive their treatment in the community. Before this transfer takes place, many PSOs spend time inside prison together with other offenders. This raises the question to what extent PSOs are safe in prison and whether this period would benefit from an integrated therapeutic program. This qualitative research study focuses on the possibility of separate housing for PSOs by examining the current experiences of incarcerated PSOs and contextualizing those with the professional experience of national and international experts in the field. Methods Between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022, 22 semi-structured interviews and six focus groups took place. Participants were comprised of 9 imprisoned PSOs, 7 international experts on prison-based PSO treatment, 6 prison officer supervisors, 2 prison management delegates, 21 healthcare workers (both inside and outside prison), 6 prison policy coordinators, and 10 psychosocial service staff members. Results Nearly all interviewed PSOs reported suffering at the hands of fellow inmates or prison staff because of the nature of their offenses, varying from exclusion and bullying to physical violence. These experiences were corroborated by the Flemish professionals. Consistent with scientific research, the international experts all reported working with incarcerated PSOs who reside in living units separate from other offenders and the therapeutic benefits to this approach. Despite this growing evidence, the Flemish professionals remained reluctant to implement separate living units for PSOs in prisons because of the perceived risk of increased cognitive distortions and further isolation of this already stigmatized group. Conclusion The Belgian prison system is not currently organized to create separate living units for PSOs, which has important ramifications for the safety and therapeutic opportunities of these vulnerable prisoners. International experts emphasize a clear benefit for introducing separate living units where a therapeutic environment can be created. Although this would have significant organizational and policy-oriented implications, it would be useful to explore whether these practices could be implemented in Belgian prisons as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise Wuyts
- University Forensic Center, Antwerp University Hospital (UZA), Edegem, Belgium
- University Psychiatric Hospital Duffel, Duffel, Belgium
- Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Minne De Boeck
- University Forensic Center, Antwerp University Hospital (UZA), Edegem, Belgium
- Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Tineke Dilliën
- University Forensic Center, Antwerp University Hospital (UZA), Edegem, Belgium
- Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Liesbeth Merckx
- University Forensic Center, Antwerp University Hospital (UZA), Edegem, Belgium
| | - Kasia Uzieblo
- The Forensic Care Specialists, Van der Hoeven Kliniek, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Faculty of Law and Criminology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Katrien De Koster
- Faculty of Law and Criminology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Astrid De Schutter
- Faculty of Law and Criminology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Kris Goethals
- University Forensic Center, Antwerp University Hospital (UZA), Edegem, Belgium
- Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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Turhan A, Delforterie MJ, Roest JJ, Van der Helm GHP, Neimeijer EG, Didden R. Relationships between dynamic risk factors for externalising problem behaviour and group climate in adults with mild intellectual disability in forensic treatment. JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH IN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES 2023; 36:641-652. [PMID: 36883307 DOI: 10.1111/jar.13088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Relationships between dynamic risk factors for externalising problem behaviour and group climate were investigated in 151 adult in-patients with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning in a Dutch secure residential facility. METHOD Regression analysis was used to predict total group climate score and Support, Growth, Repression, and Atmosphere subscales of the 'Group Climate Inventory'. Predictor variables were Coping Skills, Attitude towards current treatment, Hostility, and Criminogenic attitudes subscales of the 'Dynamic Risk Outcome Scales'. RESULTS Less hostility predicted a better overall group climate, better support and atmosphere, and less repression. A positive attitude towards current treatment predicted better growth. CONCLUSION Results indicate relationships of hostility and attitude towards current treatment with group climate. A focus on both dynamic risk factors and group climate may provide a basis for improving treatment for this target group.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Turhan
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Trajectum, Zwolle, The Netherlands
| | - M J Delforterie
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Trajectum, Zwolle, The Netherlands
| | - J J Roest
- Research group Residential Youth care, Leiden University of Applied Sciences, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - G H P Van der Helm
- Research group Residential Youth care, Leiden University of Applied Sciences, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - R Didden
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Trajectum, Zwolle, The Netherlands
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Harper CA, Hicks RA. The Effect of Attitudes Towards Individuals with Sexual Convictions on Professional and Student Risk Judgments. SEXUAL ABUSE : A JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND TREATMENT 2022; 34:948-972. [PMID: 35220820 PMCID: PMC9643808 DOI: 10.1177/10790632211070799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Attitudes towards individuals with sexual convictions is an area with growing research interest, but the effects of such attitudes on professional judgments is largely unexplored. What is known from the existing literature is that attitudes guide the interpretation of sexual crime related information, which cascade into potential biased or heuristically driven judgments. In this study we recruited samples of both students (n = 341) and forensic professionals (n = 186) to explore whether attitudes towards individuals with sexual convictions predicted risk judgments of hypothetical sexual offense scenarios, and whether this relationship is moderated by professional status or perpetrator characteristics. Forensic professionals expressed more positive attitudes overall, but the significant effect of attitudes on risk judgments was consistent between participant groups and was not moderated by perpetrator age or sex. We suggest that relying on attitudes as a basis for risk judgments opens the door to incorrect (and potentially dangerous) decision-making and discuss our data in terms of their potential clinical implications. An open-access preprint of this work is available at https://psyarxiv.com/rjt5h/.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rachel A. Hicks
- Nottingham Trent University
(UK), Nottingham, UK
- Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS
Foundation Trust, Nottingham, UK
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Duncan K, Winder B, Blagden N, Norman C. "I've Got the Energy to Change, But I Haven't Got the Energy for This Kinda Therapy": A Qualitative Analysis of the Motivations Behind Democratic Therapeutic Community Drop-Out for Men With Sexual Convictions. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OFFENDER THERAPY AND COMPARATIVE CRIMINOLOGY 2022; 66:1213-1236. [PMID: 32917108 PMCID: PMC9326789 DOI: 10.1177/0306624x20956957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Prison-based democratic therapeutic communities (TCs) provide an alternative to mainstream prison, where prisoners can work on psychological difficulties and address offending behavior. Research demonstrates TCs are effective at reducing reoffending rates for residents who stay in therapy 18+ months, and those who drop out of TCs offend at a significantly higher rate than those who complete therapy. Thus, it is important to reduce attrition in TCs. No research has yet explored the explanations for TC drop out offered by those with sexual convictions. The present study uses Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis to qualitatively explore the accounts of men with sexual convictions (n = 7) who dropped out of a TC in a UK prison. Results highlight that issues surrounding external responsivity, therapeutic relationships, and treatment readiness were salient in the participants' accounts of drop out. This research has implications for TCs seeking to better understand and address attrition of people with sexual convictions.
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Welland S, Duffy LJ, Baluch B. Rugby as a rehabilitation program in a United Kingdom Male Young Offenders' Institution: key findings and implications from mixed methods research. J Exerc Rehabil 2020; 16:78-87. [PMID: 32161738 PMCID: PMC7056485 DOI: 10.12965/jer.1938726.363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a growing body of research on the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs in a Young Offenders' Institution (YOI). The aim of the present study is to investigate the effectiveness of rugby training as a rehabilitation intervention in a YOI in the United Kingdom. Young adult males (n=46) currently serving sentences at the YOI were split into two groups, intervention (n=25; mean age, 19.64±0.81 years) and no intervention (n=21; mean age, 19.76±0.89). Participants completed the Criminal Attitudes and Associates (MCAA) instrument at three different time cycles and then pre/post for intervention group. Additionally, qualitative interviews (one to one and focus groups) were carried out with the intervention and no intervention groups during the same cycles of the study. The results of questionnaire analysis showed no significant difference in MCAA measures taken before and after rugby intervention. Interestingly, the intervention group showed more procriminal attitudes on their responses compared to the no intervention group. Finally, analysis of the 3 cycles of data collected showed that the time of the year the questionnaire was completed has a significant impact on the responses given. In contrast, the qualitative interviews showed a very positive change of attitude towards rehabilitation from the intervention group after rugby training. The implications of the results in relation to studies aimed at evaluation of the intervention programs in YOI are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Welland
- School of Science and Technology, Middlesex University, London, UK
| | - Linda J Duffy
- School of Science and Technology, Middlesex University, London, UK
| | - Bahman Baluch
- School of Science and Technology, Middlesex University, London, UK
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Palermo MT. Moral Reasoning and Academic Integrity: Memory Impairment, Corrigenda, and the Pursuit of Knowledge. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OFFENDER THERAPY AND COMPARATIVE CRIMINOLOGY 2020; 64:295-298. [PMID: 31971042 DOI: 10.1177/0306624x20902301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
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Vogel J, Sauter J, Vogel BO, Dahle KP. Targeting Misconduct in Prison by Modifying Occupational Factors in Correctional Facilities. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:517. [PMID: 32581887 PMCID: PMC7292027 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Misconduct in prison is a phenomenon, which by its nature is hard to observe. Little is known about its origins and its modifiability. This study presents data on the level of misconduct in prison perceived by staff members and examines its impact on occupational factors. Data from officers, which also included i.e. team climate, job satisfaction, self-efficacy, and sick days, was collected at three different correctional units in Berlin, Germany (N = 60). The study reveals higher rates of perceived misconduct in prison on regular units as compared to treatment units within the observed facilities. In addition, regression analysis provides evidence for an association of rates of misconduct in prison, sick days, and low self-efficacy. Results are discussed in terms of providing a model that supports the idea of a network entailing occupational factors and misconduct in prison and which can be utilized to target misconduct in prison with suitable interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Vogel
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julia Sauter
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bob-Oliver Vogel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Klaus-Peter Dahle
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Psychology, Universität Hildesheim, Hildesheim, Germany
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Sauter J, Vogel J, Seewald K, Hausam J, Dahle KP. Let's Work Together - Occupational Factors and Their Correlates to Prison Climate and Inmates' Attitudes Towards Treatment. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:781. [PMID: 31736801 PMCID: PMC6829674 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of psychosocial and structural occupational factors in mental health service provision has broadly been researched. However, less is known about the influence of employees' occupational factors on inmates in correctional treatment settings that mostly seek to apply a milieu-therapeutic approach. Therefore, the present study investigated the relationships between occupational factors (job satisfaction, self-efficacy, and the functionality of the organizational structure) and prison climate, the number of staff members' sick days as well as inmates' treatment motivation. Employees (n = 76) of three different correctional treatment units in Berlin, Germany, rated several occupational factors as well as prison climate. At the same time, treatment motivation of n = 232 inmates was assessed. Results showed that higher ratings of prison climate were associated with higher levels of team climate, job satisfaction and the functionality of the organizational structure, but not with self-efficacy and sick days. There was no significant relationship between occupational factors and the perceived safety on the treatment unit. Inmates' treatment motivation was correlated with all aggregated occupational factors and with average sick days of staff members. Outcomes of this study strongly emphasize the importance of a positive social climate in correctional treatment units for occupational factors of prison staff but also positive treatment outcomes for inmates. Also, in the light of these results, consequences for daily work routine and organizational structure of prisons are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Sauter
- Institute of Forensic Psychiatry, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Joanna Vogel
- Institute of Forensic Psychiatry, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Katharina Seewald
- Research & Development Division, Berlin Prison and Probation Services, Berlin, Germany
| | - Joscha Hausam
- Institute of Forensic Psychiatry, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Klaus-Peter Dahle
- Institute of Forensic Psychiatry, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Psychology, University of Hildesheim, Hildesheim, Germany
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