This report outlines the findings of qualitative research that explored the views of victim-survivors about post-custodial interventions for people with convictions for sexual offending (PCSOs). Adopting multiple broad theoretical perspectives, it examined the following research questions:
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What are the needs of victim-survivors of sexual violence during the release and reintegration of PCSOs following prison?
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What do victim-survivors of sexual violence consider to be the needs of PCSOs during their release and reintegration?
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What are victim-survivors’ reasons for supporting or opposing a wide range of PCSO post-custodial measures (electronic monitoring, offender registers, community notification, parole supervision, psychological interventions and Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA))?
Through semi-structured interviews with 26 victim-survivors (19 men, including one trans man, and seven women), the research identified that, during and following PCSOs’ release from prison, victim-survivors require information and psychological support. Victim-survivors were generally in favour of offering supports to PCSOs returning to the community, largely because they believed that offering PCSOs support would reduce their risk of reoffending and better protect the community. Victim-survivors’ recommendations for measures to reduce the risk of reoffending following prison were varied but centred around PCSOs receiving monitoring and supervision, psychological interventions and social supports. In terms of support for individual post-custodial interventions, victim-survivors expressed (often contingent) support for PCSOs receiving electronic monitoring, (non-public) sex offender registers and community notification, psychological interventions, parole supervision and CoSA. The study highlights the importance of considering victim-survivor perspectives in shaping post-custodial measures for PCSOs and suggests avenues for further research to enhance understanding and policymaking, practice and service delivery in this area.
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