RESEARCH REPORT Community-based approaches to sexual offender reintegration
Perpetration of sexual violence is widespread in Australia, creating long-term negative effects on wellbeing.
Community safety is enhanced through reducing the risk of reoffending by those who have sexually offended.
A key avenue to reducing risk of reoffending is a community-based program model that aims to reintegrate sexual offenders into the community. In Australia, few programs that provide this support have been the subject of research.
This project examined two programs for high-risk sexual offenders reintegrating into the community after a period of incarceration: South Australia’s Circles of Support and Accountability program, and the Cultural Mentoring Program in Townsville, Queensland.
Semi-structured qualitative interviews were undertaken with 83 participants, including those who were:
- currently or recently involved with one of the programs
- staff or volunteers of one of the programs
- government, non-government or private stakeholders
- victims/survivors
An evaluation guide and framework for each of the programs was developed and is included in the report to support the programs in developing better mechanisms for capturing the work that is done and measuring impact on recidivism rates.
The report includes recommendations for policy and practice.
Publication details
This work is part of the ANROWS Research reports series. ANROWS Research reports (Horizons) are in-depth reports on empirical research produced under ANROWS’s research program.
Authors
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR KELLY RICHARDS
School of Justice, Faculty of Law, Queensland University of Technology
DR JODI DEATH
School of Justice, Faculty of Law, Queensland University of Technology
PROFESSOR KIERAN McCARTAN
Department of Health and Social Sciences, University of the West of England
ISBN: 978-1-925925-23-4 (print) | 978-1-925925-24-1 (online)
158 pp.
Suggested citation
Richards, K., Death, J., & McCartan, K. (2020). Community-based approaches to sexual offender reintegration (Research report, 07/2020). Sydney, NSW: ANROWS.