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Thesis advisor: Ann W. Burgess / Purpose: The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological qualitative study was to describe the meaning of being considered a ‘sex offender’ for the individual who is reintegrating into society. The aims included understanding the lived experience of the participants, while considering issues associated with self-perception, perception of others, stigma and humanization. A secondary aim was to unveil the meaning of being identified as a ‘sex offender’ and reintegrating into society carrying such label. Background: Individuals with a criminal history face several barriers upon reentering society. For individuals with a history of sexual offenses, the challenges are even more aggravated. In many instances, society perceives individuals charged with a sex offense (ICSO) as “evil,” “monsters” and “the highest form of evil.” Additionally, upon reentry, ICSOs are subject to several sanctions that are uniquely directed towards those who have committed sexual crimes, such as civil commitments, housing and employment limitations and the Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB). While treatment specializing in sex offending is available and has been associated with reduced sex offending, issues associated with stigma, protracted or inhibited reintegration and overall recidivism are still common occurrences. Method: This study was guided by Heidegger’s hermeneutic phenomenology philosophical principles, Max van Manen’s approach guided data collection and analysis. Only male adults (>18) were included in the study, and those who had a current “prisoner status” were excluded. Fourteen participants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling. Participants were individually interviewed about their experience of being charged with a sexual offense, accounting for when they were first charged, until the period in which they reentered society. An iterative process was used for data analysis. Data was coded and interpreted through a hermeneutic circle. To ensure rigor and trustworthiness, Lincoln and Guba’s criteria were used, which include credibility, confirmability, dependability, and transferability. Audit trails, triangulation and reflexivity were essential strategies. Results: The study sample consisted of fourteen men, ranging in age from 23 to 68 years old (x̄ = 51.7 years; table 1). One participant identified his race/ethnicity as Asian American, while all other participants identified their race/ethnicity as white. Five of the participant were assigned a level 3 in the SORB, while four were assigned a level 1, three were assigned a level 2 and two were awaiting a level designation. The major themes identified were: (1) Exposed secret leads to humiliation (2) Being considered a sex offender is living in fear of the unknown, (3) Stigma consumes the identity of the individual charged with a sexual offense (4) Reframing and “leveling” of the crime are coping strategies; and (5) The path towards healing and forgiveness is complex. These themes represent different facets of the phenomenon of interest. Conclusion: Through hermeneutic phenomenology, a more complete understanding of the meaning of being considered a ‘sex offender’ for the person reintegrating into society was formed. The data uncovered allowed for a conceptualization of the phenomenon, The vexed question of accepting guilt while avoiding shame. Future research should focus on longitudinally exploring the interplay between behavior and the process of shame and guilt over time. Moreover, future studies should test and verify the conceptualization. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2021. / Submitted to: Boston College. Connell School of Nursing. / Discipline: Nursing.

Current therapeutic treatment methods are ineffective in identifying at-risk sex offenders and reducing recidivism of known offenders, likely due to inadequate identification of specific traits of sex offenders. Previous research and prominent theories in the area of sex offender treatment, in terms of the biological foundation of substance abuse, behaviors of sex offenders, and the presence of aggression, helped to guide this research. Data about sex offenders were collected, as reported by mental health professionals who treat them and focused on three characteristics: maladaptive interpersonal behaviors, impulsivity, and antisocial behaviors, on which the research questions were formed to detect commonality. For this study, a phenomenological approach was chosen through a qualitative design and an 11-item open-ended questionnaire was developed with which 11 mental health professionals who treated sex offenders were interviewed. The audio was transcribed, the text was coded into the themes of the research questions, and the data was analyzed for commonality. The results indicate that all three traits in the research questions are common among sex offenders. The results of this research added to the framework of understanding of common behaviors among sex offenders and to positive social change by providing a clearer understanding of the three targeted behaviors. The information gathered from this qualitative research will guide larger-scale quantitative studies on the sex offender population, ultimately assisting sex offender treatment providers and forensic interviewers with more rapid identification of traits specific to sex offenders.

AN ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION OF Stephanie Jerstad, for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice, presented on January 11, 2022, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.TITLE: CARE FOR THE AGING: LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT PERSONS CONVICTED OF SEXUAL OFFENDING MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Breanne Pleggenkuhle The present study is a multi-pronged approach to examine the willingness of long-term care facilities (LTCF) to accept persons on the sex offender registry or with a sexual offense conviction. First, this dissertation utilizes a statutory analysis to examine all 50 states policies for admitting and managing such individuals in long-term care. Second, the study aims to explain why some states may enact a LTC/SO policy by examining state characteristics, policy and political affiliation. Third, the study sets out to better understand if facility-level characteristics matter to the acceptance of persons on the sex offender registry. And will discuss findings from semi-structured interviews of LTCF administrators of their decision-making processes, and their attitudes towards company policy. The findings of all three levels of analyses are presented and future research is discussed. Keywords: Sex offender, long-term care facility, SORN and residency restriction laws, statutory review, collateral consequences of sex offender policy

Accounts of sexual abuse appear daily in the media. Rightfully, this issue demands attention. Juveniles may be victims; they may also be offenders who are subject to sex offender registration and notification (SORN) policies. Growing research finds that SORN policies fail to achieve intended public policy outcomes. Little is known, however, about the unintended consequences of SORN for juvenile offenders. This study contributed to a more comprehensive understanding of the effects of these policies on this population. Merton's concept of manifest and latent functions of purposive social action and an alternate non-criminogenic form of Lemert's secondary deviance proposition provided the theoretical framework. Research questions focused on whether a relationship exists between sex offender registration for a juvenile offense and severity of depression in current and former registrants after maturation into adulthood, and whether the relationship persists. A quantitative causal-comparative study was conducted using self-reported survey data from a non-probability sample of 59 registrants. Multiple regression analysis found SORN had a significant positive predictive relationship to severity of depression in adults currently registering for a juvenile offense as compared to former registrants, and the control group of those never registered, as measured by the Public Health Questionaire-9. A significant persistent depressive effect was not found in former registrants. Findings validate concerns that SORN may have iatrogenic effects for juvenile offenders; these findings also suggest that alternate, non-criminogenic forms of secondary deviancy appear to be associated with this policy. This understanding of the net effects of SORN informs policy decision makers and has social change implications for future sexual abuse prevention policies that may have greater likelihood of efficacy.

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As long as the public maintains staunch and unwarranted negative attitudes toward sex offenders, little hope remains for released sex offenders to successfully reintegrate into society. Therefore, it is in the interest of society that we understand the nature of views of sex offenders so that attempts can be made to promote maximal reintegration and preventing recidivism. To date no valid psychometric instrument exists that measures attitudes toward sex offenders. Therefore, the purpose of this project is to develop such an instrument that will accurately measure stigma associated with sex offenders. Unrotated Prinicipal Components Factor Analysis revealed a single interpretable factor comprised of 17 of the original 27 items with factor loadings of .4 or greater. Chronbach's Alpha Reliability Procedure (a=.88) indicates the SOAS is a valid instrument. The findings suggest possible uses of the SOAS in a variety of areas of sex offender rehabilitation, including treatment and reintegration programs.

The abused-abuser hypothesis posits that a history of sexual victimization may increase the risk of engaging in sexually abusive behavior for some victims. Although many researchers have discovered a higher prevalence of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) in sex offenders in comparison with non-sex offenders, less research has considered how specific characteristics of prior sexual abuse may contribute to how these individuals sexually abuse others. For the present study, archival data were collected from 243 youths receiving residential treatment for sexually abusive behavior and self-reported data were collected from university students with no known history of sexual offending. The present study confirms disproportionally high rates of CSA in the sample of sexually abusive youth, compared to non-sexual abusers. Further, among the sample of sexually abusive youth, we examined the effects of sexual perpetrator characteristics and age of sexual victimization on victim choice, age at first sexual offense, and number of sexual offenses, number of arrests, and sexual victims. Results revealed associations between perpetrator characteristics and victim choice. Additionally, being sexually victimized by a male or a relative was significantly associated with a younger age of onset of sexually abusive behavior and a younger age of sexual victimization suggested a greater number of sexual victims. Implications and future directions will be explored.

This structured yet flexible manual presents an innovative group treatment approach that targets deficits in self-regulation—a central problem for sex offenders. Safe Offender Strategies (SOS) comprises 10 evidence-based modules that teach participants the skills to desist from problem behaviors, manage their emotions and impulses, and break unhealthy relationship patterns. Motivational enhancement and validation techniques are woven throughout this collaborative treatment. SOS can be used with a range of clients—including high-risk offenders and those with mental illness or intellectual disabilities—in institutional or outpatient settings. Fifteen reproducible forms and worksheets can be downloaded and printed in a convenient 8 1/2" x 11" size. / https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu_books/1065/thumbnail.jpg

Sex Offender Treatment Programming (SOTP) is a specific treatment intervention aimed at reducing recidivism through cognitive behavioral modification of known risk factors for sexual offending. SOTP provided in criminal justice or correctional settings and contexts presents unique ethical challenges and experiences for traditionally trained mental health counselors due to competing and differing roles, priorities, and stakeholders. SOTP in criminal justice or correctional settings is in some instances provided by professionally licensed or certified and traditionally trained mental health practitioners; and such settings can challenge traditional ethical standards and practices. A study was conducted utilizing qualitative phenomenology in order to investigate the ethical experiences of mental health practitioners providing SOTP in criminal justice settings. Semi-structured phone interviews were conducted with six professionally licensed or certified practitioners who were currently providing (or had recently provided) SOTP in criminal justice settings. Analysis of the data revealed thirty codes and six prevailing themes: unexpected entrance into the field of SOTP; ethical limits; role incongruence; competing obligations; imbalance between rehabilitation and community safety; and line of demarcation (“the line”). The essence of participant experiences was determined to be: who is the client? Meaning, participants identified ethical experiences that at their core indicated difficulty identifying to whom ethical obligations were owed. A model depicting the process of ethical experiences described by participants providing SOTP in criminal justice settings is offered. Future research questions and potential, related research projects are described. Implications for practice, counselor preparation, and research are summarized. The results of the present study may provide greater insight into a subject with limited research, while providing information for practitioners that may aid their ability to navigate complex ethical situations.