The utility of peer-support in enhancing the treatment of incarcerated sexual offenders

Perrin, Christian ORCID: 0000-0002-5835-2610, Frost, Andrew and Ware, Jayson Barry (2018) The utility of peer-support in enhancing the treatment of incarcerated sexual offenders. Therapeutic Communities: The International Journal of Therapeutic Communities, 39 (1). pp. 35-49.

Text Perrin. Ware. Frost. 2017. The utility of peer-support in enhancing the treatment of incarcerated sexual offenders.pdf - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (410kB)

Abstract

<jats:sec> <jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Purpose</jats:title> <jats:p>In the quest to maximize treatment gains, recent research has shifted focus from treatment itself to the context in which treatment takes place. Such investigations have alluded to rehabilitative climate, therapeutic alliance, prison social climate, and the efficacy of group process. The purpose of this paper is to review peer-support as a mechanism via which these goals might be reached.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Design/methodology/approach</jats:title> <jats:p>A review of the literature on peer-support in carceral settings was undertaken in February 2017.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Findings</jats:title> <jats:p>While there is very little research exploring peer-support in the context of offender rehabilitation, there are some promising signs from many qualitative investigations that peer-led roles can bridge many gaps in support within the therapeutic context.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Research limitations/implications</jats:title> <jats:p>More research on the potential negative impact of peer-support in carceral setting is needed.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Practical implications</jats:title> <jats:p>This paper proposes that the implementation of peer-support programs that operate alongside treatment interventions represent an encouraging direction for the future. It is argued that prisoner-led peer-support initiatives that are characterized by shared problem solving and reciprocal emotional support can greatly reduce the anxiety prisoners face surrounding treatment. It is suggested that, through peer-support, treatment gains may be enhanced and better assimilated into program-completers’ lives.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Social implications</jats:title> <jats:p>Peer-support may assist current treatment approaches with sexual offenders and could therefore potentially contribute to reductions in recidivism.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Originality/value</jats:title> <jats:p>This paper is the first to review peer-support in the context of imprisonment and offender therapy. It therefore provides an important status update for future researchers wishing to investigate this topic, and outlines several priorities that such research might interrogate further.</jats:p> </jats:sec>

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Behavioral and Social Science, Rehabilitation, Mental health
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	05 Dec 2017 16:22
Last Modified:	16 Mar 2024 20:18
DOI:	10.1108/tc-06-2017-0018
Related URLs:	Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3013578