The Treatment of Sex Offenders within HM Prison Service: Responding to the Risks and Needs of a Diverse Population

This thesis considers the experiences of both staff and adult male prisoners involved in group-based sex offender treatment in prison, and explores the potentially diverse needs of different groups of prisoners. In-depth interviews were conducted with ten prisoner participants at a single prison, all of whom had completed the Core Sex Offender Treatment Programme (SOTP) (Mann & Thornton, 1998) and identified with at least one of three specified minority groups (BME, physically disabled, gay or bisexual). These groups were identified on the basis of current knowledge gaps. A second study involved interviews with fourteen members of staff drawn from different establishments, all of whom had experience of delivering Core SOTP. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) (Smith et al., 2009) was selected as an appropriate method of analysis. For prisoners, superordinate themes relating to the therapeutic process, group membership and identity, and group dynamics are reported. For staff, super-ordinate themes relating to power relationships, responding to needs, and managing the group are presented. For each study, data are presented as descriptive, phenomenological accounts alongside substantive verbatim quotes from interviewees. Separate discussion chapters are included for the purposes of engaging in higher order analysis, interpretation, and making relevant links to existing theory. For prisoners, this allows for a more detailed consideration of various narratives of identity, both at an individual and group level. Connections between wider experiences of prison, and diversity issues in the context of treatment are highlighted. For staff, identity is also discussed, but framed in terms of interactions with prisoners, other staff and feelings of professional competence. The exploratory investigation of data from two small samples allows for a rich and detailed analysis of complex and under-researched issues. A consideration of both studies in tandem also makes it possible to engage in a process of triangulation, revealing commonalities and contrasts in the ways in which both groups experienced related phenomena. In conclusion, recommendations for both further research and practice are considered.